Antwerp decline not unexpected
Belgiums Antwerp port has seen the total volume of goods handled in the first quarter of 2009 slump 19% on the same period last year, falling from 46.2m tonnes to 37.3m tonnes.
“Overall, the contraction is in line with the prognosis put forward at the beginning of this year by Port Authority CEO Eddy Bruyninckx in his presentation of the figures for 2008 as a whole,” said the port.
All cargoes volumes reported were down, with car imports particularly suffering with a 45.8% decline.
Despite the drop, the Port Authority said it was “convinced” that further investment in the port was still the best response to the continuing crisis.
“Exceptional circumstances call for exceptional measures,” said the authority.
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