Port of Antwerp handles over 6 million t of dry bulk during 1H16

For the first six months of 2016, the Port of Antwerp has announced it has handled a freight volume of 108 317 922 t – 3.6% more than in the same period last year.

The amount of dry bulk handled during the first six months totalled 6 051 326 t – a drop of 14.7% compared with the same period in 2015. According to the port, the declining demand for coal continued during the past quarter, which over the full six months produced a negative result for this freight category, down by 55% to 372 714 t. The lower volume of ore (down 18.9% to 996 034 t) further pushed the six-monthly result for dry bulk into negative figures.

However, both container and liquid bulk saw increases for the first six months of 2016. The container volume in TEU expanded by 4.4%, while liquid bulk grew even more, by 8.4%.

The first half year also saw significantly more ultra-large container carriers calling at Antwerp. Whereas the total after the first six months of 2015 stood at 146, this year the equivalent figure was 242, up by an impressive 66%. The growth in the category of 13 000 TEU or more was even more spectacular, at 78%.

Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/handling/18072016/port-of-antwerp-handles-over-6-million-t-of-dry-bulk-during-1h16-2037/