The total cargo throughput of Port of Antwerp-Bruges amounted to 68.7 million tonnes in the first quarter of this year, a decrease of 4.5% compared to the same period last year. This decrease is the result of the still complex geopolitical and macroeconomic context, which has led to a decline in the container segment and important shifts in goods flows. In order to continue to respond to this as a world port, the port, together with existing and new pioneers, is fully committed to sustainable growth.
Operational challenges at the container terminals and congestion have slowly eased since the third quarter of 2022. Economic uncertainty and inflation caused a global slowdown in container shipping demand and the cancellation of sailings, especially those from the Far East. Together with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which caused the Russian-related traffic in the first three months of 2023 to be two thirds lower than in the same period last year, this results in a drop in container throughput of 6.6% in tonnes and 5 . 7% in TEU, compared to the first quarter of 2022.
Throughput volumes of conventional breakbulk are in line with the pre-covid period, but down 19.8% compared to a very strong first quarter in 2022, when a strong post-covid recovery resulted in high throughput figures. The slowing economy is accompanied by a drop in demand for steel. This resulted in a 21.9% drop in steel throughput, both incoming and outgoing.
The dry bulk segment decreased by 7.3%. This is mainly due to the decrease in fertilizers, the largest product group within dry bulk. Although the production of fertilizers has increased again since March due to the fall in energy prices, the total throughput of fertilizers still fell by 26.4% during the first quarter. The continuing high demand for coal for energy generation translates into throughput that is almost three times higher than in the same period last year. The throughput of sand and gravel is also increasing (+9.3%).
The liquid bulk segment recorded a growth of 0.5%. In addition to an increase in the throughput of LNG (+23.3%), partly as an alternative to natural gas via pipelines from Russia, there is also growth in the throughput of diesel, fuel oil and energy gases. Chemical throughput is picking up compared to the last quarter of 2022, when high energy prices resulted in lower production or production stoppages, but still remains 21.3% below the record of the first quarter of last year.
Roll -on/roll-off traffic remains the global status quo, but there is a revival in the new car segment. In the first quarter of 2023, 904,901 new cars were imported and exported, an increase of 7.2% compared to 2022. The throughput of all transport material grew by 4.3%, while unaccompanied cargo (excluding containers) showed a decrease (-2.4%.) The part of these volumes related to the United Kingdom fell by 5.6% in the first quarter, while traffic to and from Ireland increased by 14.2%.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges is and will remain the largest car port in the world. In total, the terminals cover an area of more than 400 hectares with a parking capacity of 210,000 units. Cars from all major brands in the automotive sector pass by and for many brands, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the intercontinental and European hub.
Zeebrugge welcomed 29 cruise ships in the first 3 months of 2023 . Efforts to spread cruise tourism throughout the year thus set a new first quarter record.
In the first quarter, 4,946 seagoing vessels called at the port, a decrease of 3.6%. The total gross tonnage of these ships grew by 3.8%.
Continuing role as a world port: merged port attractive for investors
Several investments in the first months of 2023 proved that the port, which merged a year ago, is attractive to investors from the Netherlands and abroad. For example, a fourth company was announced for NextGen District, the hotspot for the circular economy in the heart of the Antwerp port site, where the first sod will hit the ground this year. In addition, global player Vopak, a Dutch tank storage company, will sustainably redevelop the former Gunvor site in Antwerp. For example, the company, together with Port of Antwerp-Bruges, will focus on joint development/implementation in function of renewable energy. This is another important step towards a climate-neutral economy.
High-performance infrastructure and extra container capacity remain a priority in order to continue to play at the top level of world ports. For example, the modernization and deepening of the Europa Terminal, which has now started, will ensure that the latest generation of megaships can continue to call at the Europa Terminal. The fact that the trend towards larger container ships is continuing will become clear in the coming weeks as records are successively broken with the calls of the MSC Tessa (24,116 TEU), the OCCL Spain (24,188 TEU) and the MSC Loreto (24,346 TEU).
Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp-Bruges: “These results show that, as a world port, we are at the center of the ongoing challenges posed by the geopolitical and macroeconomic context. But despite these disappointing figures, the outlook for 2023 remains positive. Falling energy prices, improving Chinese economy and signs that the liner shipping market is also picking up again are reasons to have confidence in the future. Moreover, thanks to the complementarity of both port platforms, we can better respond to shifts in the flow of goods.”
Annick De Ridder, port alderman of the City of Antwerp and chairman of the board of directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges: “Together with the companies present in our port, but also with new pioneers who bring a lot of jobs to our port, such as at NextGen District , we will continue to focus on sustainable growth. In addition, investments in strategic infrastructure such as the modernization of the Europa Terminal are essential to ensure our position as a world port and to fulfill our role as the economic engine of Flanders. The merger makes us much more resilient to challenges together, and we are therefore convinced that we will soon be able to present good growth figures again.Filling the many vacancies is a major challenge.”
Dirk De fauw, mayor of the city of Bruges and vice-chairman of Port of Antwerp-Bruges: “ Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the world player for the automotive sector. This position will only strengthen given the investments in extra capacity by both existing operators and new players who choose our port as a base from which to conquer the European market. I am therefore confident that we will be able to show growth here again in 2023. Furthermore, the efforts to spread cruise tourism better over the whole year have been successful. This is confirmed by the record number of cruise ships that called at Zeebrugge this first quarter. In the less busy winter months, cruise tourism is a blessing for the tourist fabric in Bruges, Blankenberge, Brussels, Ghent, Ypres and Antwerp.”