Containers the driving force behind Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ total throughput growth in 2024
Port of Antwerp-Bruges will close 2024 with 2.3% growth in total throughput, amounting to 278 million tonnes. Despite geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties, the port is showing resilience, with a strong increase in container throughput as the main driver. Ambitious plans are ready for 2025 to further strengthen its pivotal role in energy transition and international trade.
Strong container throughput drives growth amid turbulent times
Despite a turbulent economic climate, with rising energy prices, geopolitical tensions and increased international competition, Port of Antwerp-Bruges managed to achieve a total throughput of 278 million tonnes in 2024, a 2.3% increase over 2023.
Containers were the driving force behind this growth, up 8.9% in tonnage and 8.1% in TEUs. Reefer containers increased by 9.2%, accounting for 8.6% of total container traffic. The market share in the Hamburg-Le Havre Range grew by 0.7 percentage points to 30.6% in the first nine months of the year.
Other segments felt the impact of challenging market conditions. The chemicals sector is experiencing its worst years since 2009, while sectors such as construction and automotive were under pressure from high energy and raw material prices and low demand. Instability in the Red Sea and geopolitical tensions led to longer shipping times and uncertainty in international shipping.
Conventional general cargo maintained the status quo (0.1%), with growth in iron and steel throughput (+3.7%) while other product groups declined. RoRo throughput declined 3.4% by 2024, driven by a decline in auto throughput (-10.3%). Dry bulk throughput increased slightly by 0.4%. Coal fell sharply (-35.4%), but fertilisers compensated with 22.9% growth. Liquid bulk experienced a 5.8% decline, mainly due to reduced demand for diesel (-22.3%) and LNG (-21.9%). Chemicals, on the other hand, grew strongly (+14.8%), helped by an increase in biofuels (+60.1%), and despite continued pressure on the European chemicals sector.
In 2024, 20,195 seagoing vessels called at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, a slight increase of 0.2%. Zeebrugge welcomed 187 cruise ships and 557,000 passengers in 2024, as per a release.
Source: Exim News Service: Antwerp, Jan. 28