Port of Antwerp sees growth in dry bulk commodities

The port of Antwerp handled 54 324 303 t of freight during the first three months of this year (1Q17), 1.5% more than in the same period last year. The further growth is mainly due to container freight, which was up by 2% in terms of tonnage. This has been the best first quarter ever, both for total overseas freight and for containers. And on top of all that the previous month was the best for containers that has ever been recorded in the port of Antwerp.

According to a news release from the port, all this means that after the record year of 2016 the port of Antwerp is off to a good start.

“The Port Authority is very satisfied with these growth figures,” declared CEO Jacques Vandermeiren. “Since the first half of last year experienced better performance than the second half, it is important to see the volumes continuing to steadily increase in the container segment. This positive trend confirms the demand for additional container capacity in the Antwerp port area.”

The volume of dry bulk stood at just over 3.1 million t at the end of the quarter, representing impressive growth of 6.7% compared with the same period last year, due mainly to higher imports of ore and coal.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/ports-terminals/24042017/port-of-antwerp-sees-growth-in-dry-bulk-commodities/