Oct. 30--THE Belgium port of Antwerp saw cargo throughput rise 3.3 per cent in the first nine months of the year to total 167.1 million tonnes, compared to the same period in 2016.
According to data from the Antwerp Port Authority, the container sector handled 91.9 million tonnes of cargo over the reporting period, an increase of 3.7 per cent year on year. The growth in volume was attributed to the commencement of new liner services from the port, and the new alliance groupings that launched in April working out to the port's advantage, reported American Shipper.
The port's container business with North America and the Far East rose, while trade with European ports declined.
From January to September, liquid bulk volume rose 2.4 per cent year on year to 54.5 million tonnes, yet dry bulk volume declined by 0.8 per cent to 9.2 million tonnes.
Conventional breakbulk tonnage amounted to 7.8 million tonnes, while ro-ro tonnage totalled 3.7 million tonnes, up 7.7 per cent and 10.7 per cent, respectively, against the same period a year earlier.
(Source:shippingazette)