Higher volumes, fewer boxes
The Belgian Port of Antwerp-Bruges has released its results on the period from January to September 2022. Overall throughput amounted to 217.4 million t, a slight increase of 0.8% compared to the same period last year. All cargo segments are up, with the exception of container traffic.
After nine months in 2022, container throughput is down 8.8% in tonnes and 5% in teu compared to the same period in 2021.
The port commented that "the decline is the result of the ongoing disruption of container logistics and the effects of the conflict in Ukraine. Containers are still not rotating sufficiently due to congestion, which means that the throughput of full containers is falling, while that of empty containers is rising." An improvement is expected by Q1/2023.
Conventional breakbulk grew by 9.7% and ro-ro traffic posted an increase of 8.1%. Throughput of new cars went up by 8.5%. The uptick in the dry bulk segment (+21.5%) was primarily fuelled by the increase in coal transports, also a collateral effect from the conflict in Ukraine.
The liquid bulk segment recorded rise of 13.3%. LNG showed significant growth (+66.5%). 215 LNG ships have called at Zeebrugge so far this year, compared to 121 during the same period in 2021. (sh)