Port of Antwerp-Bruges reports slight throughput growth this year

The port’s total throughput in the first nine months of this year has ticked up by almost 1% on the year to 217.4 million mt.

PHOTO: Huge container ship being unloaded with cranes at a container terminal in Antwerp, Belgium. Getty Images

Liquid bulk throughput, which includes energy products such as LNG and diesel, increased by 13% to 68.2 million mt, Port of Antwerp-Bruges says.

Meanwhile, container cargo throughput dropped 9% on year to 110.3 million mt. The port authority has attributed the fall in container activity to Russia's war in Ukraine and frequent logistics disruptions this year.

It says that “heavily disrupted container liner shipping” segment is unlikely to return to normal until the first quarter of 2023.

Several ports in northern Europe including, Antwerp and Hamburg, have also faced strike action this year over wage hike disputes, which has disrupted cargo and vessel movements.

By Shilpa Sharma

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online