North Sea Port posts net result of 26.4 million euros for 2018
The port's net result for 2018 was 26.4 million euros. The revenue achieved, 106 million euros, was some 6.5% higher than in 2017 (or than it would have been if the fusion port had been created).
Harbour dues accounted for 43 million in revenue (+9%) and the sale/lease of land brought in 47 million euros (+6%).
Operational costs remained under control in 2018 – thanks to the first synergies resulting from the merger – and totalled 50 million euros. This is 2% lower than in 2017, despite the fact that the maintenance and management costs of infrastructure increased by 1.7 million euros to reach a total of 10.9 million euros. Consequently, the operational result rose by 8% as well, to 54.8 million euros. Net profit amounted to 26.4 million euros.
The extremely positive operational cash flow of 37.1 million euros made it possible to meet the financial commitments in connection with the decontamination of the Thermphos premises and the Nieuwe Sluis in Terneuzen in full. Expenditures, investments in infrastructure in particular, resulted in a slight negative cash flow of 4.6 million euros.
As with revenue in general, North Sea Port is seeing gradual growth in land turnover from concessions and long-term leasing, along with a rise in the volume of transshipped goods. The fusion port views this as a positive sign with regard to the further, future development of the cross-border port area. The first months of 2019 have demonstrated a continuing trend in these positive results for now, although the increase in transshipment and revenue compared to 2018 so far remains limited.
North Sea Port is a cross-border port area that is 60 kilometres long. The area stretches from Vlissingen past Terneuzen in the Netherlands and some 32 kilometres inland to the Flemish (Belgian) port city of Ghent.