Definitive figures for 2008

The port of Antwerp handled 189,389,545 tonnes of freight last year. This represents growth of 3.5% compared with the nearly 183 million tonnes in 2007, which was already a very good year. The figures for the first nine months in particular were excellent, and while the last quarter clearly showed the effects of the downturn in the world economy, the port of Antwerp continued to do relatively well.

The container volume was up by 7.2% to 101,362,024 tonnes, slightly less than the 102 million tonnes expected for the end of December. In terms of twenty-foot equivalent units, the volume expanded by exactly 6% to 8,663,736 TEU . The ro/ro volume experienced a very slight decrease of 0.3%, to 4,427,143 tonnes. During the past year 343,285 cars were imported and 618,388 exported, with the total volume increasing by 2.3% to 961,673 vehicles. Conventional/breakbulk cargo was down by 14.5% to nearly 16,938,327 tonnes, after an exceptional year in 2007 when there was a very high volume of steel from Asia. The main reason for the decrease was the 21.4% fall in the volume of steel handled, to 10,465,953 tonnes. The volumes of forest products, sugar and granite were also down, but on the other hand fertilisers, chemicals, flour and fruit all experienced growth.

The volume of bulk freight was up by 4% to 66,662,051 tonnes, largely as a result of the sharp increase in dry bulk. The boost was due to among other things trading activities and the opening of a new terminal in the 6th Haven dock. Dry bulk experienced an increase of 11.6%, to 27,345,817 tonnes, although the volume was originally expected to be nearly 28 million tonnes. Liquid bulk was down slightly, by 0.7%, to 39,316,234 tonnes. Chemicals once more showed good growth with an increase of 4%, thus further consolidating Antwerp’s position as a distribution hub for chemical products.

The number of seagoing ships calling at the port was down by 1.7% to 16,046, but on the other hand the gross register tonnage was up by 2.6% to 296,400,489 GRT.

After a strong first half of the year the number of jobs handled in 2008 overall was up by 2.8% to 1,800,087. In 2007 the number was 1,750,491.

Source: Antwerp Port Authority