Antwerp and Panama extend collaboration

In view of the positive evaluation of the first agreement, made in 2010, the new agreement will run for a period of five years, after which it can be renewed again.

The first collaboration agreement was the first of its kind to be signed by the Panama Canal Authority with a European port. It covered among other things joint marketing initiatives, the exchange of market studies and the setting up of training programmes. Information was exchanged on the handling of very large vessels, a unique feature of both the port of Antwerp and the Panama Canal.

Trade with South America via the Panama Canal is very important for the Port of Antwerp, amounting to some 4.7m tonnes annually. Every week there are seven liner services passing through the Canal on their way to or from Antwerp. Furthermore, the volume of trade between the two continents is expected to continue increasing.

Spokesperson for the Port of Antwerp, Annik Dirkx, told Port Strategy: “Trade with South America via the Panama Canal is very important for the Port of Antwerp, amounting to some 4.7m tonnes annually. Furthermore the volume of trade between South America and Europe is expected to grow in the future, as the Canal is being deepened and widened to handle larger vessels.”

She added: “We hope to see a part of this volume coming to Antwerp.”