Antwerp-Bruges’ throughput down 6% in 1H 2023

The port’s total throughput in the first half of 2023 has declined by 6% on the year to 139 million mt as weaker global economic activity has impacted demand for container transport and cargo flows.

PHOTO: Container ship handling cargo in Antwerp. Getty Images

“Operational challenges and congestion at the container terminals were resolved after two ​years, with deviated cargo returning,” the Antwerp-Bruges Port authority said.

Liquid fuels’ throughput grew by 6% in the first half of 2023. The growth was mainly driven by a 57% surge in gasoil and diesel throughput, which rose as EU importers were eager to build stocks in the lead-up to the region's ban on oil product imports from Russia from 5 February.

“LNG throughput remained status quo (down 1.4% y-o-y), compared to a strong 2022,” the port officials added.

Liquid bulk throughput, meanwhile, declined by 3% over this period, and dry bulk by 13% amid a slowdown in inflows of fertilisers and coal.

In contrast to an overall fall in container cargo throughput in the first half of 2023, the number of reefer containers grew by 11% compared to the same period last year. Goods carried in these reefer containers were mostly fruits.

“Despite the weak economic climate, conventional breakbulk is holding up quite well, throughput volumes are in line with the pre-Covid-19 period,” said port authority. However, breakbulk throughput was down 17% compared to the same period in 2022, which “showed exceptionally high throughput rates due to a strong post-Covid-19 recovery.”

"As with other world ports, the economic situation is still posing major challenges, and this is reflected in the figures,” said Jacques Vandermeiren, chief executive of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. 

By Aparupa Mazumder 

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