In 2020, the Port of Antwerp made progress towards greener energy, digitalisation, and mobility through various projects. The business plan for the coming year continues to build on the 2018-2020 business plan with its three strategic priorities of sustainable growth, targeted transition, and resilience.
Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of the Port of Antwerp, said: “Despite the crisis, we were more forward-looking than ever in 2020, in terms of energy transition, mobility, and digitalisation.” He added that port initiaitves including the CO2 reduction project Antwerp@C and the hydrogen coalition, “will really be major game changers within the next 10 years”.
Annick De Ridder, Port Alderman, said that the port will continue the momentum of 2020 in 2021 “with our submitted relaunch projects such as the pipeline network that can be a key in the energy transition and attention for the railways. In short, we are emphasising resilience, transition and sustainable growth”.
Record container throughput
Record container throughput enabled the port to limit the overall decline in throughput in 2020. The total throughput of Port of Antwerp in 2020 amounted to 231m metric tonnes of cargo, a fall of 3.1% compared with the previous year.
Despite a year dominated by the pandemic, with several difficult months and cancelled sailings, container throughput once again saw higher volumes since July. As a result, the 12 million TEU mark was exceeded for the first time in 2020, equating to growth of 1.3% compared with 2019.
In 2020, 13,655 seagoing vessels called at Antwerp, representing a 5.1% decrease compared with 2019.
Mercator Media’s 2021 Coastlink conference will be hosted at the Port of Antwerp.