Geopolitical instability continues hurting Port of Antwerp-Bruges breakbulk throughput

Breakbulk throughput at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges dipped in the third quarter resulting in lower figures for the first nine months of the year, when compared to the same period in 2023. Citing geopolitical and economic instability, the port reported a throughput of 7.5 million tonnes for the period, 4.8 per cent below the previous year’s figures. 

The breakbulk sector showed signs of recovery in the second quarter of 2024, but this was not enough to eclipse the figures reached in 2023. The port authority said that iron and steel decreased in the January-September period by 0.6 per cent, where a rise in exports partially offset lower imports.

“This decline is due to a lower demand from steel processing sectors such as construction and automotive. Products such as wood (-32.9 per cent), paper and cellulose (-22.6 per cent) and construction materials (-36.9 per cent) also saw a decline, while non-containerised throughput of fruit, vegetables and other refrigerated cargo increased by 4.1 per cent,” the port authority said.

Roll-on/roll-off traffic dropped by 5.5 per cent. The high & heavy segment which includes project cargo and out-of-gauge cargo transported on specialised equipment saw a 23.5 per cent drop in throughput.

In total, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is having a positive 2024 with the overall throughput reaching 210.5 million tonnes, up 3 per cent compared to the same period last year. Container throughput in tons increased by 8.9 per cent, with imports increasing by 10.2 per cent and exports by 7.9 per cent. The growth in the first half of the year continued in the third quarter, with 12.3 per cent more containers handled (TEUs) than in the same quarter last year. Over the first nine months, total container throughput in TEUs increased by 6.8 per cent to 10,152,000 TEUs.

“Despite the complex times in which we operate, with geopolitical tensions, rising energy prices and global competition, we are stabilising our growth, thanks in part to our strong position in container handling. Sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, cyberattacks and other challenges are forcing us to remain flexible and resilient,” Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said. “Along with our partners, we are continuing to build a future-proof port where innovation supports both sustainability and economic growth. Investments like those of Vioneo and Indaver reflect confidence in our port and in the future of European industry.”