Port of Antwerp launched its 2019 results now that the year has come to an end, presenting strong growth for the seventh year in a row, showing a positive impact not only in its economic sector but in the social sector as well.
As shown in the photo above, the Port’s freight volumes were increased by 1.3% to 238 million tonnes.
- Container freight in particular gained market share, up from 27.5% to 28.2%;
- Dry bulk segment for its part saw its total volume expand by 3.4%;
- Breakbulk, with steel as the main product resulted in an overall contraction of 13%;
- Liquid bulk segment too the volume was down, by 4.4%, due mainly to the slowdown in economic growth and fluctuations in oil prices.
Moreover, Antwerp is amongst the seven shipping companies that signed an agreement in order to develop new projects that can offer to the the production, transport and storage of hydrogen. Through the agreement, companies assist in Belgium’s climate target to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% until 2050.
Port of Antwerp CEO Jacques Vandermeiren commented that
We are using the technology and expertise that we have in the port to smooth the path towards becoming a carbon-neutral port. We are striving for a multi-fuel port where various sustainable fuels are available beside one another.
