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THE Port of Antwerp-Bruges has reported a 6.3 per cent reduction in container throughput in terms of tonnes and a 7.2 per cent decrease in TEU in 2023 compared to the previous year, resulting in an overall throughput of 271 million tonnes of cargo, reflecting a 5.5 per cent decline from 2022, reports London's Port Technology.
Despite these reductions, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges increased its market share in the Hamburg-Le Havre range 0.6 per cent, reaching 30.2 per cent in 2023.
Liquid bulk traffic suffered a 2.1 per cent decrease, but had an increase in fuel throughput due to a rise in diesel and paraffin, while petrol and fuel oil declined.
Conventional breakbulk throughput volumes returned to pre-pandemic levels after a significant post-Covid rebound between spring 2021 and September 2022.
Overall throughput at the port decreased 18.8 per cent compared to 2022.
Steel handling, the largest category under conventional general cargo, saw a 16.9 per cent decline, attributed to decreased European steel output and weaker demand, with exports (down 15.5 per cent) outperforming imports (down 17.9 per cent).
Unaccompanied cargo (excluding containers) transported on ro-ro vessels also experienced a 1.5 per cent decrease. Additionally, the dry bulk sector witnessed a 13.9 per cent decline in 2023.
The port welcomed 20,156 seagoing vessels in 2023, representing a 4.2 per cent decrease, while the overall gross tonnage (GT) of these vessels increased 2.6 per cent to 657 million GT.
"We had seen it coming for some time that 2023 would not be a great year. After all, as a port, we are at the centre of economic and geopolitical challenges," said Antwerp-Bruges Port CEO Jacques Vandermeiren.
"But, with a powerful strategy, the merger, and an efficiency exercise, we have managed to organise ourselves in good time and are even gaining market share in the Hamburg-Le Havre range. Especially in more turbulent waters, it is essential that using our strategic plan as a compass, we keep sailing in a focused manner in the right direction. We will therefore continue this in 2024."
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