By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : October 21, 2026 6:59 pm
Liquid bulk volumes came under renewed pressure from June, with declines in petroleum derivatives, chemicals and LNG
Port of Antwerp-Bruges recorded a strong rebound in container traffic in the third quarter of 2026, recovering from months of operational disruptions even as geopolitical tensions, trade barriers and weak European industrial demand continued to weigh on overall cargo volumes.
The Belgian port handled 200.9 million tonnes of goods in the first nine months of the year, down 0.8% from the same period in 2025. Container throughput, however, gathered pace from August, delivering the port’s strongest quarterly performance since the fourth quarter of 2020.
The recovery followed a turbulent first half marked by adverse weather, strikes across the nautical chain and an oil spill in the Deurganck Dock. Operations faced another setback in mid-July when a damaged container carrying hydrofluoric acid disrupted activity in the dock.
Empty containers drive container recovery
Container throughput rose 1.2% in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the first nine months, although volumes measured by tonnage remained 0.6% below last year’s level.
The recovery was driven largely by empty containers, which surged 11.7% in TEUs. In contrast, full-container throughput fell 1.3%, reflecting rising import volumes, pressure on exports and a growing need to reposition empty containers, particularly towards Asia.
Rob Smeets, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said: “The strong recovery of container throughput in the third quarter shows the resilience of Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Simultaneously, the operational context remains challenging. Trade barriers, high energy prices, and a weak European industrial sector are putting pressure on several cargo flows. That is why we need to keep investing in efficiency, capacity, and competitiveness so that Port of Antwerp-Bruges can continue to serve as a logistical and industrial powerhouse in a volatile context.”
Middle East conflict reshapes trade routes
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt energy supplies and redirect shipping flows. No LNG cargoes from Qatar have arrived since March, while diesel supplies from the Middle East have been halted since mid-May.
Container shipping lines have adjusted schedules and developed alternative routes to serve the region. The shift has been dramatic: container exports to the Persian Gulf plunged 70%, while exports to other parts of the Middle East nearly quintupled.
With geopolitical tensions and trade conflicts increasingly reshaping global commerce, port officials are looking to diversify trading relationships and capture new markets.
Johan Klaps, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Port Alderman for Antwerp, said: “Geopolitical tensions and trade conflicts are increasingly dictating global cargo flows. This makes it essential to diversify our trade relations and tap into new growth markets. India presents significant potential in this regard. The EU free trade agreement has the potential to deliver a further impetus to trade volumes. Port of Antwerp-Bruges intends to leverage these opportunities to reinforce its position as a primary gateway connecting India and Europe.”
Steel, chemicals and energy cargoes remain under pressure
Beyond containers, several cargo segments continued to struggle. Liquid bulk volumes came under renewed pressure from June, with declines in petroleum derivatives, chemicals and LNG. Weak European industrial demand and elevated energy prices remain major headwinds.
Conventional general cargo throughput fell 16.6%, largely driven by a 17.5% drop in iron and steel. European steel quotas, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), high energy costs and subdued demand are adding to the sector’s difficulties.
Fruit and vegetable cargoes bucked the trend, rising 7.6%
Dirk De fauw, Vice President of the Board of Directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Mayor of Bruges, said: “These results highlight the extent to which global developments resonate directly within our ports. Energy streams are realigning, trade routes are adapting, and markets are swiftly evolving. The key strength of Port of Antwerp-Bruges is that, operating from both Antwerp and Zeebrugge, we can accommodate a broad spectrum of cargo flows. This complementarity ensures our resilience in an ever-shifting global landscape.”
Cars and dry bulk provide bright spots
Other cargo categories delivered stronger results. Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) throughput increased 5.5%, supported by a 9.3% rise in new-car volumes, particularly vehicles from China and Japan.
Cargo flows with Ireland and Scandinavia increased, offsetting declines in traffic with the United Kingdom and the Iberian Peninsula.
Dry bulk throughput climbed 13%, fuelled mainly by higher volumes of iron ore and other ores. Fertiliser volumes, however, slipped 1.1%.
The mixed performance underscores the challenges facing one of Europe’s major logistics and industrial hubs. While the third-quarter container rebound points to the port’s ability to recover from operational setbacks, persistent weakness in industrial cargo, disrupted energy supplies and shifting global trade routes continue to test its resilience.