News

2016 record year for Port of Antwerp

The Port of Antwerp handled a record volume of more than 214 million tonnes of freight in 2016, official figures are expected to confirm.

For the first time in the history of the port, the shipping container volume rose above 10 million TEU, marking an increase of 4.2% over the past 12 months. Liquid bulk is also showing year-on-year expansion – up by 4.5% – and with an estimated volume of just under 70 million tonnes it’s the second main foundation on which freight growth in Antwerp is based. Tank storage companies have experienced particularly strong growth, and the shipping volume on behalf of the chemical industry has remained fairly stable.

Overall figures in the conventional breakbulk and dry bulk sectors are down, and the continuing trend towards containerisation has depressed the volumes of, among other things, fruit and paper.