Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges posted mixed first-quarter results in 2026, with Rotterdam's container throughput edging up 0.3 per cent to 3.37 million TEU, while Antwerp-Bruges's container tonnage fell by 5.5 per cent, reports London's Container Management.

Rotterdam handled 103 million tonnes overall, down 0.7 per cent year on year, while Antwerp-Bruges processed 65.5 million tonnes, reflecting a 3.2 per cent decline. Notably, Rotterdam's inland container moves rose by 11 per cent due to stronger connectivity with Asia and North America, whereas Antwerp-Bruges experienced a 4.4 per cent drop in general cargo and a significant weakening of Persian Gulf flows.

Both ports pointed to a strong Q1 2025 base that was inflated by container alliance reshuffling. The Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd went live in February 2025, pulling cargo through both gateways as services transitioned. Antwerp-Bruges attributed its softer Q1 2026 container line to this base effect and the weakening of Western European exports.

Rotterdam's container book was cushioned by gains in inland and feeder services, while Antwerp-Bruges's heavier exposure to general cargo and Persian Gulf trades took the full hit. The 14 per cent surge in empty exports to Asia highlights a widening trade imbalance that is now reshaping eastbound headhaul economics for North Range operators.