Strong start for the port of AntwerpThe port of Antwerp handled a freight volume of 44,689,362 tonnes in the past three months, an increase of 11.8% compared with the first quarter of 2006. With a total of 16,487,457 tonnes of freight handled, March was an absolute record month.The container volume handled by the port grew by 18% compared with the first quarter of 2006, rising to 22,707,018 tonnes or 1,955,637 TEU (up 17.4% on the corresponding period last year).March was a record month for containers too, with 8,573,717 tonnes (up 24.3%) or 741,255 TEU (up 24.9%). The handling activity in the Deurganck container dock expanded by a huge amount, which is reflected in these growth figures. The continuing congestion and the recent strikes in the port of Rotterdam led to dozens of ships being diverted to Antwerp. From January to March 2007 the volume of conventional/breakbulk freight loaded or unloaded in the port was 4,988,944 tonnes. This represents an increase of 13.1% compared with the first three months of 2006.The amount of steel handled rose by 22.6%. Imports from Asia have nearly doubled in the space of a year, due to structural changes in the worldwide steel market. At the same time the European economy has fuelled the demand for steel imports. However, these excellent figures should not be allowed to divert attention from the continuing need to improve Antwerp’s competitive position in the field of conventional/breakbulk freight. This will require making the port dues more attractive, modernising the terminals and making labour organisation more flexible.At 337,588 tonnes, the volume of fruit remained around the same level as in 2006.The ro/ro volume rose by 16.6% to 1,086,669 tonnes, due largely to Stora Enro’s new trade in wood cellulose, carried to Göteborg by Cobelfret in SECUs (Stora Enro Cargo Units).As regards the volume of cars, there was a slight decrease compared with the first quarter of last year. During the first three months, 214,531 cars were loaded or unloaded, 1.3% less than in the same period last year. The volume of liquid bulk rose by 12.7%. Last year the amount of liquid bulk handled was significantly down (by 10.2%) due to the changed market conditions and the higher oil prices, which led to speculation. As a result, less liquid bulk was traded. During the second half of 2006 oil prices fell again, and more liquid bulk was traded and transported. However, over a period of several years there has been a structural increase in the amount of liquid bulk handled. The main drivers behind this growth are the rising demand for energy and the expansion of the European chemical and petrochemical industry. The volume of dry bulk for its part contracted by 8.1%. The mild winter contributed to the slight decrease in the amount of coal being handled. During the first quarter of 2007, 4,034 ships called at Antwerp, 6.7% more than in the same period last year. Due to increases in scale the gross register tonnage has risen sharply by 10.9%, to 69.6 million GRT.
Strong start for the port of AntwerpThe port of Antwerp handled a freight volume of 44,689,362 tonnes in the past three months, an increase of 11.8% compared with the first quarter of 2006. With a total of 16,487,457 tonnes of freight handled, March was an absolute record month.The container volume handled by the port grew by 18% compared with the first quarter of 2006, rising to 22,707,018 tonnes or 1,955,637 TEU (up 17.4% on the corresponding period last year).March was a record month for containers too, with 8,573,717 tonnes (up 24.3%) or 741,255 TEU (up 24.9%). The handling activity in the Deurganck container dock expanded by a huge amount, which is reflected in these growth figures. The continuing congestion and the recent strikes in the port of Rotterdam led to dozens of ships being diverted to Antwerp. From January to March 2007 the volume of conventional/breakbulk freight loaded or unloaded in the port was 4,988,944 tonnes. This represents an increase of 13.1% compared with the first three months of 2006.The amount of steel handled rose by 22.6%. Imports from Asia have nearly doubled in the space of a year, due to structural changes in the worldwide steel market. At the same time the European economy has fuelled the demand for steel imports. However, these excellent figures should not be allowed to divert attention from the continuing need to improve Antwerp’s competitive position in the field of conventional/breakbulk freight. This will require making the port dues more attractive, modernising the terminals and making labour organisation more flexible.At 337,588 tonnes, the volume of fruit remained around the same level as in 2006.The ro/ro volume rose by 16.6% to 1,086,669 tonnes, due largely to Stora Enro’s new trade in wood cellulose, carried to Göteborg by Cobelfret in SECUs (Stora Enro Cargo Units).As regards the volume of cars, there was a slight decrease compared with the first quarter of last year. During the first three months, 214,531 cars were loaded or unloaded, 1.3% less than in the same period last year. The volume of liquid bulk rose by 12.7%. Last year the amount of liquid bulk handled was significantly down (by 10.2%) due to the changed market conditions and the higher oil prices, which led to speculation. As a result, less liquid bulk was traded. During the second half of 2006 oil prices fell again, and more liquid bulk was traded and transported. However, over a period of several years there has been a structural increase in the amount of liquid bulk handled. The main drivers behind this growth are the rising demand for energy and the expansion of the European chemical and petrochemical industry. The volume of dry bulk for its part contracted by 8.1%. The mild winter contributed to the slight decrease in the amount of coal being handled. During the first quarter of 2007, 4,034 ships called at Antwerp, 6.7% more than in the same period last year. Due to increases in scale the gross register tonnage has risen sharply by 10.9%, to 69.6 million GRT.
