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Antwerp rides out the corona crisis

[ July 8, 2020   //   ]

Total throughput at the Port of Antwerp fell by 4.9% in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2019.  After a strong first quarter, the port experienced a decline in the transhipment of all flows of goods, apart from containers.  Despite the impact of the coronavirus crisis on global production and logistics chains and a pandemic-driven drop in demand, the port remained 100% operational.

Container traffic increased in the first quarter of the year, but felt the effects of cancelled sailings from April onwards. Nevertheless, for the period January-June 2020there was a slight increase of +0.4% compared to the same period last year (when April and May 2019 were record months). 

The number of calls made by vessels decreased, but this was compensated by a higher average volume per vessel and by additional calls on top of the normal sailing schedules.  Notable climbers in this special period were the transhipment of pharmaceutical products, e-commerce and health foods. 

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