Port of Antwerp reported 58.3 million metric tonnes in total throughput for the first quarter, a drop of 1.5% compared with the same period last year.

The port said the drop in the container segment, which is partly the result of capacity problems, underscores the urgency of extra container capacity.

"On the eve of the merger with Port of Zeebrugge, these quarterly figures confirm the importance of responding to the current challenges collectively and further reinforcing the position in the international logistical chain," Port of Antwerp added.

The port noted that the container segment came under pressure due to worldwide congestion although, despite difficult circumstances, the container segment held firm in 2021.

"In the first quarter of 2022, however, container traffic saw a fall of 11.6% in TEU compared to the same period last year, the second-best quarter ever for containers. The disruption to container liner trade, delays, and high import call sizes (number of containers unloaded by ships) are posing protracted operational challenges, which are making the operation of the container terminals more difficult," it added.

Moreover, it said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the sanctions imposed also put pressure on the number of containers handled.

Meanwhile, conventional general cargo continued its growth trajectory.

Port of Antwerp said conventional general cargo grew by 49.1% compared to the weak first quarter of 2021.

"The sanctions prohibiting the import of steel from Russia and Belarus since mid-March are having only a limited effect on throughput. After all, these flows are being replaced by imports from other countries because the EU has redistributed the import quota for steel from Russia and Belarus across other steel-exporting countries," it added.

Merger with Port of Zeebrugge

The port noted that the latest performance of the gateway confirms the importance of mergers and extra container capacity.

The announcement of these quarterly figures comes on the eve of the merger with Port of Zeebrugge. Compared to the first quarter of 2021, all the cargo types are showing growth except for containers.

"The protracted challenges in the logistics chain are revealed in the figures. These are the latest figures we at Port of Antwerp are announcing. They confirm that through this merger, we will gain a stronger position for the future. Along with Zeebrugge, we have the ability to further reinforce our position in the international logistics chain, in the current complex geopolitical and macro-economic context," said Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp.

Annick De Ridder, vice-mayor city of Antwerp & president Port of Antwerp noted that the "economic urgency" for additional container capacity is "demonstrated again and more than ever by these declining figures and the congestion problems."

"Extra container capacity is indispensable to secure our position as a world port. Thanks to the recent positive outcome of the negotiations on the ECA project, we have already taken an extremely important step. The unified port will thus be able to further face international competition and continue to grow sustainably as the engine of the Flemish economy," De Ridder said.