BRUSSELS: Europe’s second-ranked cargo port Antwerp saw year-on-year throughput rise 5.9% during 1Q15 to 51.02 million tonnes, pushed by a particularly strong increase in container volumes.
Container throughput climbed 8.5% to 28.22 million tonnes and 9.5% on a unitary basis to 2.35 million teu.
Liquid bulk rose 4.7% to 15.8 million tonnes, as oil products climbed 8% to 11.93 million tonnes, while dry bulk increased 3.6% to 3.60 million tonnes.
Port spokeswoman Annik Dirkx told IHS Maritime that the port had gained some additional container loops in recent months following the launch of the Maersk-MSC alliance, 2M.