The Port of Antwerp, Belgium, reported container traffic rose 9 percent through September, easily outpacing growth at its larger box rivals Rotterdam and Hamburg. Europe’s third-largest container port handled 6.658 million TEUs in the January-September period, putting it within sight of second-placed Hamburg, which increased shipments by just 1.4 percent to 6.7 million TEUs during the same period from a year ago.
Rotterdam, Europe’s top container hub, boosted traffic in the first three quarters by 2 percent to 8.2 million TEUs.
Antwerp said the Deurganck dock, a major terminal located outside the inland port’s lock system, increased traffic by 30 percent to 1.45 million TEUs.
Overall traffic rose by 7.2 percent to 144.4 million metric tons, outpacing a 6.1-percent rise at Rotterdam to 321 million tons and a 2-percent increase in Hamburg to 95 million tons.
But Antwerp’s reputation as Europe’s leading conventional and break bulk cargo port was tarnished by a 15.3-percent slump in traffic to just below 13 million tons. The decline was due mainly to a 15.8-percent drop in steel shipments and an 11.5-percent slide in paper imports. Car traffic was 2.5-percent higher at 723,500 units.
Bulk cargoes rose 9 percent to just over 50 million tons, driven mainly by dry bulk traffic that surged 17.7 percent, including a 48.3-percent gain in iron ore imports and a 17.9-percent jump in coal imports. Liquid bulk cargoes gained 3.6 percent, led by crude oil, up 9.1 percent.
Rotterdam, Europe’s top container hub, boosted traffic in the first three quarters by 2 percent to 8.2 million TEUs.
Antwerp said the Deurganck dock, a major terminal located outside the inland port’s lock system, increased traffic by 30 percent to 1.45 million TEUs.
Overall traffic rose by 7.2 percent to 144.4 million metric tons, outpacing a 6.1-percent rise at Rotterdam to 321 million tons and a 2-percent increase in Hamburg to 95 million tons.
But Antwerp’s reputation as Europe’s leading conventional and break bulk cargo port was tarnished by a 15.3-percent slump in traffic to just below 13 million tons. The decline was due mainly to a 15.8-percent drop in steel shipments and an 11.5-percent slide in paper imports. Car traffic was 2.5-percent higher at 723,500 units.
Bulk cargoes rose 9 percent to just over 50 million tons, driven mainly by dry bulk traffic that surged 17.7 percent, including a 48.3-percent gain in iron ore imports and a 17.9-percent jump in coal imports. Liquid bulk cargoes gained 3.6 percent, led by crude oil, up 9.1 percent.