Container traffic in Antwerp fell 16.3 percent in the first quarter of 2009 from a year ago as Europe’s third largest box port said it was too early to call the bottom of the market. But the slump in box traffic was overshadowed by a 30.7 percent collapse in conventional and break bulk shipments to just under three million tonnes The decline in break bulk shipments, led by sharply lower imports of steel, wood and granite, was a major setback for Europe’s biggest conventional cargo hub.
Container traffic fell to 1.74 million TEUs in the three months ending in March from 2.08 million TEUs in the same period in 2008. For the first time in several years, Antwerp trailed its near neighbour Rotterdam where box traffic shrunk 16 percent in the first quarter to 2.3 million TEUs.
Antwerp’s overall traffic contracted 19.3 percent to 37.3 million tonnes from 46.2 million tonnes, again trailing Rotterdam which posted a 10.8 percent decline to 94 million tonnes.
Liquid bulk was the best performing sector with shipments down just 4.1 percent at 9.3 million tonnes. Dry bulk, by contrast, slumped over 40 percent to 3.95 million tonnes, partly due to the closure of a blast furnace by steelmaker ArcelorMittal.
“We cannot yet say on the basis of the current figures whether the situation has bottomed out,” said Port Authority CEO Eddy Bruyninckx.
Bruyninckx said he expects full year container volume to decline by around 20 percent while overall cargo traffic will be 15 percent lower.
Container traffic fell to 1.74 million TEUs in the three months ending in March from 2.08 million TEUs in the same period in 2008. For the first time in several years, Antwerp trailed its near neighbour Rotterdam where box traffic shrunk 16 percent in the first quarter to 2.3 million TEUs.
Antwerp’s overall traffic contracted 19.3 percent to 37.3 million tonnes from 46.2 million tonnes, again trailing Rotterdam which posted a 10.8 percent decline to 94 million tonnes.
Liquid bulk was the best performing sector with shipments down just 4.1 percent at 9.3 million tonnes. Dry bulk, by contrast, slumped over 40 percent to 3.95 million tonnes, partly due to the closure of a blast furnace by steelmaker ArcelorMittal.
“We cannot yet say on the basis of the current figures whether the situation has bottomed out,” said Port Authority CEO Eddy Bruyninckx.
Bruyninckx said he expects full year container volume to decline by around 20 percent while overall cargo traffic will be 15 percent lower.