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Strong first half for Antwerp-Bruges, Rotterdam stays steady

[ July 18, 2024   //   ]

Total throughput of Port of Antwerp-Bruges was 143.2 million tonnes in the first six months of 2024, an increase of 3% compared to 2023. The upward trend started in the first quarter and was driven by increased demand for container transport, but is now extending to other traffics, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and an uncertain macro-economic climate, said the port.

With sailing around the Cape of Good Hope becoming the ‘new normal’, there was a rise in total container throughput of 6.8% in tonnes and 4.1% in TEUs to 6,665,000TEU compared to the first half of 2023.

Meanwhile, throughput at the port of Rotterdam remained virtually unchanged in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year, at 220.0 million tonnes, 0.3% lower than in the same period in 2023 (220.7 million tonnes).

The decline was mainly due to less handling of coal, crude oil and other liquid bulk, but containers iron ore and scrap, other dry bulk and mineral-oil products all increased. Container throughput increased by 4.2% (in tonnage) and 2.2% (in TEUs) due to increasing consumer demand and an early peak season.

Chief executive of Port of Rotterdam Authority, Boudewijn Siemons, commented: “Whether that trend will continue in other segments will depend partly on the pace of the European industry’s recovery in the coming months. In the meantime, we are holding a steady course and continue to invest in and implement projects to make the energy and raw materials transitions a success and further improve the infrastructure of the port and industrial complex.”

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