The record growth was driven by container handling (up 5.6% to 108.1 million tonnes) and liquid bulk (up 5.4% to 62.7 million tonnes). The other side of the coin is the contracting volume of labour-intensive breakbulk (down 3.3%) and dry bulk (down 4.9% to 13.67 million tonnes).

The container trade shows impressive growth, both in tonnes and in number of boxes. The number of standard containers rose by 4.5% to 8.96 TEU. This means that Antwerp should pass the 9 million TEU mark next year.

The liquid bulk volume expanded over the past 12 months. After the record year of 2013 in which the total growth of liquid bulk surged by 31.4%, this year’s figures are still very significant. Exports of liquid bulk in particular rose strongly by 17.8% because of the greater trading activities of some players. Imports for their part remained more or less stable.

The dry bulk volume contracted, and the reasons of this continued downward trend are the decline in coal imports, due mainly to the closure of various coal-fired power stations in the immediate hinterland of the port. This trend is not expected to reverse anytime soon.