Port of Antwerp clinks "grand cru" glasses
The port of Antwerp expects its 2018 figures to outshine those from 2017, and has spoken of a "grand cru year". Antwerp says its position as a major European port and Europe's largest integrated chemistry cluster was reinforced last year.
The throughput forecast for 2018 is 235 million t of goods, of which around 130 million t (+5.8%) was container traffic. That sector's volume grew by approximately 11 million teu (+5.5%). Liquid and bulk volumes rose to 76.5 million t (+4.5%) and 12.8 million t (+5%) respectively. Breakbulk jumped by 1.8% to 15.6 million t.
International chemical companies such as Borealis, Ineos, Nippon, Sea Mol and Oiltanking/AGT continued to invest in the port in 2018.
The Belgian port is set to introduce measures to encourage a modal shift for freight transport by 2030. The aim is to reduce the road traffic share from 55% to 43%, and double the rail traffic share to 15%. Inland shipping’s share should rise from 38% to 42%. (kd)