Tag: Port of Antwerp-Bruges | Ferry Shipping News

In the first nine months of 2025, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 202.6 million tonnes of maritime goods, down 3.8% year-on-year. While container volumes remained stable, bulk traffic fell due to international uncertainty.

The standout performer was the RoRo segment, which grew 3.3%, mainly driven by strong car imports from China. The RoRo category also includes PCTCs (pure car and truck carriers), underlining the port’s growing importance as a key European gateway for vehicle logistics.

In contrast, dry bulk decreased 8.9% (weaker fertiliser shipments), and liquid bulk dropped 13.5%, though biofuels and energy gases continued to rise.

Trade with the United States increased 15%, fuelled by container and liquid bulk traffic, but new US import tariffs are starting to weigh on European exports, particularly steel.

Despite global headwinds, the port remains a resilient hub for trade and energy transition.

Photo Mike Louagie

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• In the first half of 2025, total throughput at Port of Antwerp-Bruges reached 139 million tonnes, down 4.3% year-on-year.
• Container traffic showed strong recovery: up 8.6% in TEU (6.8 million TEU) and 6% in tonnes, driven by stabilised global trade and improved port fluidity.
• Conventional breakbulk fell sharply (-17.4%) due to lower steel volumes and ongoing geopolitical instability.
• Dry bulk saw a significant drop (-18.4%), mostly coal, while liquid bulk fell 4.6%, partly due to reduced LNG imports and declining demand for diesel.
• RoRo volumes slipped slightly (-2.3%), despite a rise in new car volumes (+6.5%) to 1.7 million units.
• Container congestion eased thanks to higher terminal productivity and better hinterland connections.
• CEO Jacques Vandermeiren: “We are cautiously optimistic. The recovery in container traffic is encouraging and shows the resilience of our port.”

Hyundai Glovis Embraces Digital Fire Safety for EV Shipping

As EV exports rise, Hyundai Glovis is tackling fire risks with digital innovation. Partnering with Consilium Safety Group, the company is equipping its fleet with the SMiG system—an advanced fire control interface that maps real-time smoke and heat data across ships.

Instead of vague alerts, crews now get pinpoint locations and early warnings—often gaining up to four extra minutes to respond. “It’s a digital guardian at sea,” says Consilium’s Nordberg.

The goal? Smarter, faster, data-driven safety—onboard and potentially in car parks and logistics hubs on land.

Read the full article: https://www.consiliumsafety.com/en/hyundai-glovis-and-consiliums-push-for-safer-ev-shipping/

Port of Antwerp Bruges Is Carefully Monitoring the Trade Climate

In Q1 2025, Port of Antwerp Bruges handled 67.7 million tonnes of cargo, a 4% decrease compared to the same period last year. The drop is mainly due to a significant decline in bulk traffic, although container volumes showed growth. RoRo did grow a little too.

The port continues to navigate a challenging environment marked by shifting market trends, geopolitical tensions and ongoing pressure on the European chemical sector. With the United States as its second-largest trading partner, the port is closely monitoring how the changing trade climate may impact the months ahead.

More details in the newsroom of Port of Antwerp Bruges.

Annual Figures for Port of Antwerp-Bruges Show Growth Despite Challenging Times

• Containers were the driving force behind the 2.3% growth in total throughput in the ports of Zeebrugge and Antwerp, amounting to 278 million tons.
• RoRo throughput decreased by 3.4% in 2024 compared to 2023. This decline was noticeable in transportation equipment, such as new cars (-9.4%), used cars (-31.8%), trucks (-3.2%) and High & Heavy (-22.0%).
• Belgian car sales were down 5.8% (Jan-Nov), and European electric vehicle sales were also down 5.4% (YTD), mainly due to a sharp drop in Germany.
• The throughput of unaccompanied cargo on RoRo ferries in Zeebrugge increased by 3.4%, with decreases in traffic to the UK (-2.8%) offset by increases to Ireland (+1.4%), Scandinavia (+16.3%) and Spain/Portugal (+34%).

More details on the Port of Antwerp Bruges website

Port of Antwerp Bruges published its results for the first nine months, and what we are particularly interested in are the ferry statistics.

The RoRo ferries operating from Zeebrugge saw an increase of 2.8% in unaccompanied cargo throughput (excluding containers). The 4.1% decline in traffic to and from the UK was offset by substantial growth in throughput to Spain and Portugal (+35.7%), Scandinavia (+16.7%), and Ireland (+2.2%).

Overall RoRo (including the massive amount of PCTC’s) traffic dropped by 5.5%, primarily due to reduced imports rather than increased customer demand, which eased pressure on car terminals.

Transport equipment throughput declined by 13.3%, high & heavy vehicles by 23.5%, trucks by 10.3%, and used cars by 42.6%.

New car shipments, which had surged in 2022 and 2023, decreased by 11.4% in the first three quarters of this year.

Source: Newsroom Port of Antwerp Bruges