A mixed bag for the port of Brussels
The inland port of Brussels experienced a slight drop in its waterway traffic in 2022, while container throughput set a new record. With nearly 6.8 million t transported by inland ships at the port of Brussels, port activity in Brussels is 5% below the results of 2021 (7.1 million t).
The city's own traffic (goods loaded and unloaded in Brussels) suffered the most, although it did maintain the relatively high level of 5 million t. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in transit traffic (+3%), which tempered the drop in overall traffic (-4.7%).
The positive impacts of water transport are very significant, since it is estimated that, thanks to inland shipping, nearly 633,000 truck movements and about 98,000 t of carbon were avoided in and around Brussels in 2022.
Container transport experienced another record year with a rise in tonnes of more than 30% compared to 2021. In 2022, nearly 57,000 teu were handled and unloaded in Brussels. These excellent results confirm the Port of Brussels in its decision to extend its container terminal, for which work to reinforce the quay wall is in progress.
Trade did not experience any significant variations in 2022. The Netherlands remains the primary partner. With 54% of the tonnage traded, Rotterdam and the coastal ports (Vlissingen, Amsterdam) provide, with Antwerp, the supply of hydrocarbons to Brussels, while the estuary ports (Dordrecht, Breskens, etc.) deliver most of the sand required for building projects in the Belgian capital. (sh)