Clear message from Europe’s big two

The two ports stated that large-scale investments that encourage cross-border port collaborations, such as their own, are definitely needed in order to help boost Europe’s industrial competitiveness.

Moreover, the two ports further state that as they are both clusters of energy, logistics and industrial activity, they can play “an important role” in the implementation of the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, which is targeting strengthening of the investment climate in Europe.

Hence the message to the European Commission is clear, to adopt an approach that focuses on strengthening international chains and industrial clusters, rather than specific sectors or regions.

Total throughput in the port of Rotterdam in 2024 was 435.8 million tonnes, a drop of 0.7% recorded in 2023. This drop was mostly due to lower coal and crude oil throughput. Container activity was up though, by 2.8% on 2023, to 13.8 million TEU for the 12 months of 2024.

Also citing the “turbulent economic climate, rising energy prices, geopolitical tensions and increased international competition,” Port of Antwerp-Bruges confirmed it increased total throughput for 2024 by 2.3%, to reach 278 million tons in 2024. The port added that container activity was the “driving force” behind the growth, increasing by 8.9% in tonnage and 8.1% in TEU.