Freight News, Sea


Containers up but tonnage down at Antwerp-Bruges

[ April 23, 2025   //   ]

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 67.7 million tonnes of cargo in the first quarter of 2025, a fall of 4.0% compared to the same period last year. This decline was largely driven by a sharp decrease in bulk volumes, while container throughput recorded growth. But with the US as its second-largest trading partner, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is closely watching future tariff impacts.

Container throughput rose 4.6% in tonnage and 4.5% in TEUs compared to the same period in 2024, despite geopolitical uncertainties and container alliance restructuring. The transition to the new alliances and strikes and congestion at other ports did, however, result in longer container dwell times and put increased pressure on terminal capacity. Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ market share in the Hamburg-Le Havre Range increased to 30.5% in 2024, and on a global level, the port climbed from 15th to 14th place in the ranking of the largest container ports.

Conventional general cargo experienced a modest decline (-5.4%) due to lower iron and steel throughput (-14.3%) as a result of the weak economic climate and import quotas.

Ro ro rose slightly (+1.1%), even with a sharp decline in new car throughput (-11.3%). The decline in vehicle throughput was offset by increases in other RoRo cargoes such as unaccompanied freight.

The impact of US import duties on traffic in Port of Antwerp-Bruges remains limited for now . Although some companies are acting in anticipation of tariffs, no clear export acceleration toward the U.S. has been noticeable so far. Container exports rose by 3.2%, steel saw a temporary peak in January, and 20% fewer cars were exported to the US, in line with the overall decline in car exports.

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