Port of Antwerp in First 9 Months of 2006
During the first nine months of this year more than 124 million tons of cargo was handled in the port of Antwerp. The total of 124,307,506 tons represents growth of 3.7% compared with the same period last year, with the increase evenly divided among imports and exports, reports the port’s press-service according to RZD-Partner.
Container cargo once more showed the strongest growth, up by more than 8%. From January to September, 60,310,176 tons of container cargo was handled, an increase of 8.1% on last year. In terms of twenty-foot equivalent units the volume was 5,269,067 TEU, or 8.9% higher. Container trade with the rest of Europe expanded by 15%, with North America by 10% and with the Far East by 6%.
The volume of bulk cargo handled in Antwerp from January to September amounted to 47,737,358 tonnes, very similar to the situation for the first nine months of last year (down by just 0.2%). Liquid bulk was up by 1.5%, while solid bulk was down by 2.5%.
Petroleum products once more performed well, with growth of 3.7%. The volume of coal on the other hand declined further, by 3.8%. Chemicals for their part were down by 5.3%; this was due to the large fall of 13.0% in imports, as exports rose by 11.3%.
The increase in the number of ships visiting the port continued during the third quarter. During the first nine months of the year, 11,770 seagoing ships called at Antwerp, 3.2% more than the same period in 2005. The gross register tonnage showed even stronger growth, up 6.9% to 197,256,112 GRT.
Container cargo once more showed the strongest growth, up by more than 8%. From January to September, 60,310,176 tons of container cargo was handled, an increase of 8.1% on last year. In terms of twenty-foot equivalent units the volume was 5,269,067 TEU, or 8.9% higher. Container trade with the rest of Europe expanded by 15%, with North America by 10% and with the Far East by 6%.
The volume of bulk cargo handled in Antwerp from January to September amounted to 47,737,358 tonnes, very similar to the situation for the first nine months of last year (down by just 0.2%). Liquid bulk was up by 1.5%, while solid bulk was down by 2.5%.
Petroleum products once more performed well, with growth of 3.7%. The volume of coal on the other hand declined further, by 3.8%. Chemicals for their part were down by 5.3%; this was due to the large fall of 13.0% in imports, as exports rose by 11.3%.
The increase in the number of ships visiting the port continued during the third quarter. During the first nine months of the year, 11,770 seagoing ships called at Antwerp, 3.2% more than the same period in 2005. The gross register tonnage showed even stronger growth, up 6.9% to 197,256,112 GRT.