THE port of Antwerp container volumes increased 2.3pc year on year in the first nine months of 2021 to 9,100,620 TEU, reports Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide.
Conventional breakbulk grew 62.7 per cent , primarily due to the strong growth in steel trade (+65.9 per cent), said the port authority.
September was the best month for the conventional breakbulk segment as well as being the best month since June 2011.
RoRo was up 18.2 per cent compared to the same period in 2020. In addition to the increased handling of commercial vehicles, wood and building materials are also notable risers.
Dry bulk throughput was up 9.3 per cent. The growth in fertilisers (+25 per cent) and scrap (+13.5 per cent) played a significant role in this regard.
Despite a sharp drop in the handling of crude oil (-68.5 per cent), the handling of liquid bulk increased by 2.2 per cent thanks to the strong performance in the chemicals segment, which grew 9.8 per cent and of oil derivatives which did four per cent better year on year, mainly due to an increase in non-fuel related derivatives and energy gases.
The number of reefer containers grew 3.6 per cent. Last year, the port exceeded the worldwide growth in the reefer market with a total volume of one million TEU of reefer boxes.
'This trend is clearly continuing, and with it the Port of Antwerp is consolidating its role as an important player in the reefer segment.' said the press release.
'The increased volume of reefer containers in Antwerp is partly due to increased demand. European consumers are attaching increasing importance to health and healthy food, and the pandemic has only reinforced and accelerated this trend,' the release said.
'On the other hand, the growth is due to the strong maritime position in the shipping areas of Latin America, Africa and the United States, and with countries such as China and Singapore. In addition, the port offers specialised terminals, coldstores and logistics service providers with a special focus on reefer cargo,' it said.
SeaNews Turkey
Conventional breakbulk grew 62.7 per cent , primarily due to the strong growth in steel trade (+65.9 per cent), said the port authority.
September was the best month for the conventional breakbulk segment as well as being the best month since June 2011.
RoRo was up 18.2 per cent compared to the same period in 2020. In addition to the increased handling of commercial vehicles, wood and building materials are also notable risers.
Dry bulk throughput was up 9.3 per cent. The growth in fertilisers (+25 per cent) and scrap (+13.5 per cent) played a significant role in this regard.
Despite a sharp drop in the handling of crude oil (-68.5 per cent), the handling of liquid bulk increased by 2.2 per cent thanks to the strong performance in the chemicals segment, which grew 9.8 per cent and of oil derivatives which did four per cent better year on year, mainly due to an increase in non-fuel related derivatives and energy gases.
The number of reefer containers grew 3.6 per cent. Last year, the port exceeded the worldwide growth in the reefer market with a total volume of one million TEU of reefer boxes.
'This trend is clearly continuing, and with it the Port of Antwerp is consolidating its role as an important player in the reefer segment.' said the press release.
'The increased volume of reefer containers in Antwerp is partly due to increased demand. European consumers are attaching increasing importance to health and healthy food, and the pandemic has only reinforced and accelerated this trend,' the release said.
'On the other hand, the growth is due to the strong maritime position in the shipping areas of Latin America, Africa and the United States, and with countries such as China and Singapore. In addition, the port offers specialised terminals, coldstores and logistics service providers with a special focus on reefer cargo,' it said.
SeaNews Turkey