In the first quarter of 2025, the container throughput of the port of Antwerp-Bruges reached 3.44 million TEU, which is 4.5% more than in the same period of 2024 and 2.6% higher than in the previous quarter. This allowed the port to overtake Rotterdam, which handled 3.36 million TEU, and top the ranking of container ports in Europe.
Container volumes have continued to grow since the beginning of 2024 after a decline in 2023, but the total cargo throughput of Antwerp-Bruges for January-March 2025 was 4% below the annual measurement. Liquid cargo fell the most – by almost 20%.
Bulk cargo handling remained almost at the same level as last year due to an increase in fertilizer volumes, while the volume of other bulk cargo, including coal and building materials, continued to decline. The total turnover of general cargo decreased by 5.5% due to a decrease in the handling of metal products.