Suez not felt in Antwerp – so far
In Q1/2021, the port of Antwerp recorded a throughput of 59.1 million t, on a par with the volumes of the same month last year. As the port said in a press release: "For the coming period, it remains to be seen what the impact of the incident in the Suez Canal will be."
Container throughput grew by 0.6% (in t) or 2.3% (in teu), respectively, in Q1/2021, compared with Q1/2020, which started strongly and then saw a downturn due to the initial effects of the pandemic. In January 2021 the port continued its strong performance of autumn 2020, although many container ships arrived only after long delays.
The breakbulk segment had its best quarter since Q2/2019. The throughput of iron and steel, the most important group of commodities in this segment, rose by 18.2%.
Ro-ro throughput remained stable compared to Q1/2020. Dry bulk volumes increased by 6.6%. Liquid bulk was the only segment to show a downturn (by 5%), which was primarily due to a sharp decline in the throughput of crude oil. (cd)