Original news was published on 21 April, 2017

Antwerp's cargo throughput in the first quarter increased by 1.5 per cent year on year to 54.3 million tons, while container volume rose 0.7 per cent to 2.48 million TEU.

CEO Jacques Vermeiren was quoted as saying in an American Shipper report: "Since the first half of last year experienced better performance than the second half, it is important to see the volumes continuing to steadily increase in the container segment. This positive trend confirms the demand for additional container capacity in the Antwerp port area."

The roll-on/roll off sector experienced a 5.3 per cent year-on-year increase in the first quarter, finishing out at 1.2 million tons, with the number of cars handled up 2.8 per cent to 316,988 units.

Breakbulk volumes for the quarter jumped 8.3 per cent thanks to the influx of steel, which in itself was up 14.7 per cent. Dry bulk grew by 6.7 per cent to 3.2 million tons on the back of higher imports of ore and coal.

*NEWS SOURCE