THE Port of Rotterdam and Port of Antwerp-Bruges reported declining cargo volumes in the first quarter of 2025, as both major European maritime hubs navigate challenging global trade conditions and geopolitical uncertainties.
Rotterdam experienced a 5.8 per cent decrease in total throughput, handling 103.7 million tonnes compared to 110.1 million tonnes in Q1 2024. Meanwhile, Antwerp-Bruges saw a 4.0 per cent decline, processing 67.7 million tonnes.
Container performance diverged between the ports. Antwerp-Bruges showed strong growth with a 4.6 per cent increase in tonnage and 4.5 per cent rise in TEU, according to Ventura's gCaptain.
Rotterdam's container throughput grew by 2.2 per cent in TEU but decreased 1.1 per cent in tonnage, primarily due to an 8.1 per cent drop in full container exports.
Notably, Antwerp-Bruges surpassed Rotterdam in terms of TEU throughput, handling 3.4 million TEU compared to Rotterdam's 3.3 million TEU in the first quarter.
'Port of Antwerp-Bruges' market share in the Hamburg-Le Havre Range increased to 30.5 per cent in 2024, and on a global level, the port climbed from 15th to 14th place in the ranking of the largest container ports,' the Antwerp-Bruges said in a statement.
However, the transition to new alliances, combined with strikes and congestion at other ports, resulted in longer container dwell times and increased pressure on terminal capacity, the port noted.
Rotterdam's CEO Boudewijn Siemons stressed that 'volatility has led to uncertainty among companies in the areas of trade and investment. We see this reflected in throughput volumes and the willingness to invest'.
Both ports are closely monitoring US trade relations, with Antwerp-Bruges reporting limited immediate impact from US import duties, while Rotterdam noted that threatened import duties contributed to market volatility.
SeaNews Turkey
Rotterdam experienced a 5.8 per cent decrease in total throughput, handling 103.7 million tonnes compared to 110.1 million tonnes in Q1 2024. Meanwhile, Antwerp-Bruges saw a 4.0 per cent decline, processing 67.7 million tonnes.
Container performance diverged between the ports. Antwerp-Bruges showed strong growth with a 4.6 per cent increase in tonnage and 4.5 per cent rise in TEU, according to Ventura's gCaptain.
Rotterdam's container throughput grew by 2.2 per cent in TEU but decreased 1.1 per cent in tonnage, primarily due to an 8.1 per cent drop in full container exports.
Notably, Antwerp-Bruges surpassed Rotterdam in terms of TEU throughput, handling 3.4 million TEU compared to Rotterdam's 3.3 million TEU in the first quarter.
'Port of Antwerp-Bruges' market share in the Hamburg-Le Havre Range increased to 30.5 per cent in 2024, and on a global level, the port climbed from 15th to 14th place in the ranking of the largest container ports,' the Antwerp-Bruges said in a statement.
However, the transition to new alliances, combined with strikes and congestion at other ports, resulted in longer container dwell times and increased pressure on terminal capacity, the port noted.
Rotterdam's CEO Boudewijn Siemons stressed that 'volatility has led to uncertainty among companies in the areas of trade and investment. We see this reflected in throughput volumes and the willingness to invest'.
Both ports are closely monitoring US trade relations, with Antwerp-Bruges reporting limited immediate impact from US import duties, while Rotterdam noted that threatened import duties contributed to market volatility.
SeaNews Turkey
