Antwerp-Bruges container growth driven by empties as loaded volumes fall
Nine-month container throughput rose 1.2% in TEUs, but loaded-container volumes fell 1.3%, the Belgian port authority reported.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges reported a recovery in container handling during the third quarter after weather, strikes and dock incidents disrupted earlier operations. Its 20 October release put total cargo throughput across all categories down 0.8% over the first nine months.
Container throughput increased 1.2% measured in twenty-foot equivalent units, while container tonnage fell 0.6%. Empty-container handling rose 11.7% in TEUs; full-container throughput fell 1.3%. The authority said rising imports and pressure on exports were increasing the need to reposition empties, particularly towards Asia.
Conventional general cargo fell 16.6%, although fruit and vegetables grew 7.6%. These measures describe port cargo flows, not pallet purchases or pallet-production demand.
Image: Port of Antwerp-Bruges newsroom.
Source attribution
- Source organisation
- Port of Antwerp-Bruges
- Original date
- 20 Oct 2026
- Published by us
- 21 Oct 2026
Pallet News publishes a short original summary only. Copyright in the original update remains with the publishing organisation.
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