The port of Antwerp in 2000: 130 million tonnes! An all time record. /09 Apr 2001/

Cargo turnover

The Port of Antwerp can look back on an extremely good year 2000. Latest available figures show a maritime cargo turnover of 130.5 million tonnes. This is more than 14 million tonnes (12,9%) higher then the result of last year. Even compared to the record-breaking year of 1998, results show a positive score of more than 10 million tonnes. Never before in the history of the port an increase of this magnitude was realised in one year.

The growth of container turnover in the port is remarkable. The 4 million TEU-mark is reached for the first time. In tonnes, container traffic was about 44,5 million tonnes. This represents an impressive 5 million tonnes (12,9%) more than in 1999. Maritime container turnover increased by a quarter over the last two years and it more than doubled over the last seven years. The port is now 8 years ahead of the forecasts made 6 years ago and used in planning the construction of the container dock on the left bank.

In non-containerised cargo, the port produced strong results: roll-on/roll-off traffic was up 4,4 % and conventional cargo 20%. For the first time since 1995, more than 10 million tonnes of steel were handled (+30%). Non-containerised volumes of paper and pulp reached the record level of 1998. Fruit however did less well. Non-containerised handling did not recover completely from the bad start of the year (with a/o low apple exports from Chile to Europe).

There was also good news from the dry bulk sector. Coal handling increased to 8 million tonnes (+17%). Loading and unloading of ores increased by 4%. Fertiliser turnover grew to 5 million tonnes (+10,1%). In the liquid bulk segment, both the unloading of basic materials and the turnover of derivatives increased considerably.

Antwerp confirms its position as Flemish mainport, judged by volume as well as by the importance of intercontinental cargo flows. This position if undeniably linked to the deepening of the river Scheldt. Both Antwerp and Flanders need a further deepening of the river: a status quo would be a step backwards.

Hinterland

A mainport can only exist if optimal use is made of all hinterland transport modes. The environment friendly modes play a major role in this respect.

Inland navigation does more than its share of transporting the increasing cargo volume to and from the hinterland. For 2000, a total volume of almost 70 million tonnes is expected. This result is more than 7 million tonnes better than the previous record of 1999.

Also rail transport plays an important role. Its functioning in the future however depends on good solutions for a connection between the right and the left bank of the river and for the second rail access to the port.

Provisional results show that a substantially higher volume of cargo (+9%) was transported to and from the port by rail than in 1999.

Employment

Higher cargo turnover resulted in more people employed. In 2000 about 6 more jobs were available to dockers. The most recent study on the economical impact of the port showed an increase of the number of people directly employed in all sectors of the port for two consecutive years, to 55,553. It also calculated the direct value added to the port to be Bef 256,8 billion (6,37 billion Euro). This resulted in a flow to the treasury of Bef 128,8 billion (3,19 billion Euro).

Source: Port of Antwerp, Port Authority