Freight News, Sea


Box recovery keeps Antwerp tonnage stable

[ October 20, 2026   //   ]

In the first nine months of 2026, Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 200.9 million tonnes of goods, 0.8% less than in the same period last year. However, container throughput recovered strongly after consecutive disruptions in the first half of the year and the third quarter was the best since late 2020.

As a result, container throughput grew by 1.2% in TEUs over the first nine months although in tonnage terms it remained 0.6% below last year’s level

The Middle East conflict continues to impact cargo flows. Since March, no LNG cargoes from Qatar have arrived, and since mid-May, diesel supplies from the Middle East have also come to a halt. Container shipping lines adjusted their sailing schedules and developed alternative routes to serve the region. As a result, container exports to the Persian Gulf fell by 70%, while those to other parts of the Middle East nearly quintupled.

Port chief executive Rob Smeets, said: “The strong recovery of container throughput in the third quarter shows the resilience of Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Simultaneously, the operational context remains challenging. Trade barriers, high energy prices, and a weak European industrial sector are putting pressure on several cargo flows. That is why we need to keep investing in efficiency, capacity, and competitiveness so that Port of Antwerp-Bruges can continue to serve as a logistical and industrial powerhouse in a volatile context.”

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