Port of Antwerp’s quarterly figures prove worth of Zeebrugge merger

The Port of Antwerp says that its latest quarterly figures – which show a 1.5 percent y-o-y drop in total throughput to 58.3 million metric tonnes – “confirm the importance of responding to the current challenges collectively” through its merger with the Port of Zeebrugge.

In a statement issued on April 20, the Port of Antwerp added that: “The drop in the container segment, which is partly the result of capacity problems, [also] underscores the urgency of extra container capacity.”

With its container traffic showing a 11.6 percent y-o-y fall in Q1 2022, the Port of Antwerp said: “The disruption to container liner trade, delays and high import call sizes (number of containers unloaded by ships) are posing protracted operational challenges, which are making the operation of the container terminals more difficult. Moreover, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the sanctions imposed also put pressure on the number of containers handled.”

The Ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge merger event is on April 28, and the two ports will henceforth operate as a integrated port authority under the name of Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

For more information visit www.portofantwerp.com