Belgium’s Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 13.5 million TEUs in 2024, translating to an 8.1% growth over the previous year’s figures. The major European port reported a smaller 2.3% increase in its total freight volume nearing 278 million tonnes.
At the same time, the port’s container throughput increased by 8.9% in terms of tonnage with the reefer segment accounting for 8.6% of total box traffic and growing by 9.2% compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, the port’s market share within the Hamburg-Le Havre Range also increased by 0.7 percentage points to reach 30.6% during the first nine months of the year.
However, other segments faced significant challenges due to market pressures. The chemicals sector endured its toughest period since 2009, while the construction and automotive sectors grappled with high energy and raw material costs alongside subdued demand. “Instability in the Red Sea and geopolitical tensions led to longer shipping times and uncertainty in international shipping,” commented a port official.
In particular, conventional general cargo remained stable (+0.1%), supported by a 3.7% increase in iron and steel throughput, though declines were seen in other product categories. RoRo throughput fell by 3.4%, driven primarily by a 10.3% drop in auto throughput. Dry bulk throughput saw a slight uptick of 0.4%, with coal volumes plummeting by 35.4% but enjoyed a 22.9% surge in fertilizers.
Liquid bulk experienced a 5.8% decline due to reduced demand for diesel (-22.3%) and LNG (-21.9%), though chemicals grew strongly (+14.8%), buoyed by a 60.1% increase in biofuels, even amid ongoing struggles in the European chemicals sector.
In 2024, the port handled 20,195 seagoing vessels, a modest 0.2% rise. Zeebrugge also recorded notable activity, hosting 187 cruise ships and 557,000 passengers throughout the year.
Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, commented: “Over the past year, we have once again demonstrated our resilience. More than ever, the challenges we face, such as geopolitical tensions, the energy transition and complex permit processes, require cross-border cooperation and a shared vision. Only then will we remain attractive to investors and maintain our strategic role as a pioneer in the industry.”
The boss of the Belgian port added: “The demand for additional capacity continues to grow louder, while security becomes an increasingly important issue. 2025 will undoubtedly be another year of challenges, but also of opportunities. With our unique mix of logistics, maritime and industry, and our strategic location, we are ready to prove our agility once again.”
