Port of Antwerp Despite Corona Crisis in the First Quarter of 2020

The total cargo volume of the Port of Antwerp decreased in April due to the Corona crisis, but increased overall by 0.4% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. The container volume rose in 2020, while other cargo categories such as bulk goods and Ro/Ro continue to be under pressure.

(Antwerp, 19.05.20) Despite the impact of Corona on global production and supply chains and a decline in demand due to the Corona crisis, the port recorded slight growth in total cargo volume from January to April 2020 compared to the same period last year. The container volume fell in April compared to April 2019, but recorded an overall growth of 6.1% in TEU in 2020. The effects of canceled trips will become noticeable in the further course of the second quarter. On the other hand, there was a strong increase in empty containers to China, which is a sign of a recovery in production there.

In the case of breakbulk, with steel as the main product, the effects of global trade disruptions since 2019 have become apparent, and the closure of some industries due to the Corona crisis has led to a sharp decline of 15.7% in April and 29.1% overall in 2020. Due to the lack of production in the automotive industry, there were no new car imports from Asia, and exports of European cars also came to a standstill. The used car market was almost completely absent due to the Corona crisis. As a result, the total Ro/Ro volume from January to April decreased by 16.2% compared to the same period last year.

Regarding bulk goods, there was little demand for coal due to the mild winter and the shutdown of the steel industry, resulting in very little traffic to the hinterland. The fact that sufficient renewable energies (solar and wind) were available in Germany also contributed to the sharp decline in coal shipments. Meanwhile, other bulk categories remain under pressure and are decreasing in volume. In the liquid bulk sector, the volume decreased by 2.5% in 2020, mainly due to lower demand for oil derivatives. The volume of chemical products recorded slight growth of 0.6% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year.

 Impact Analysis and Perspectives

The Port of Antwerp is an important international port, whose activities reflect developments in the European and global economy. Despite a weaker month in April, the port was able to maintain its level in terms of cargo volume. The effects of weak demand due to the Corona crisis will become more pronounced in the coming months. Meanwhile, the Port of Antwerp is doing everything necessary to ensure the efficient functioning of the port.

Photo: Port of Antwerp

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