The port of Antwerp handled over 104.5m tonnes of freight in the first six months of this year, up 6.4 per cent on the same period of 2014, it has been revealed.
The strong performance during the half year was mainly due to growth in container freight, which climbed 9.5 per cent in TEU to 4.8m TEUs and 7.4 per cent in tonnage to 57.5m tonnes, as well as liquid bulk.
The port authority noted that the formation of an alliance between several container shipping companies 'clearly acted in favour of Antwerp'. This made itself felt in particular in trade to and from the Far East, resulting in a sharp growth in the container volume handled in the Deurganck dock (up 28.2 per cent).
The number of seagoing ships calling at Antwerp during the first six months came to 7,075, up 1.2 per cent on the same period last year.
