Antwerp Port`s container throughput falls 15.6pc in 2009

THE Port of Antwerp in Belgium registered a total container throughput of 7,309,639 TEU for 2009, representing a decrease of 15.6 per cent compared to the previous year. Container volume fell 13.9 per cent year on year to 87,247,745 tonnes last year.
The port handled 157,806,429 tonnes of freight in 2009, down 16.7 compared to 2008. Within this total, imports fell 22.3 per cent to 81,600,769 tonnes, and exports 9.7 per cent to 76,205,660 tonnes, a statement from port authorities said.
Conventional/breakbulk throughput was down 38.3 per cent to 10,449,980 tonnes, mainly due to "sharp decreases" in the volumes of steel products handled, which were down 44.7 per cent year on year to 5,791,936 tonnes, and wood cellulose and paper, down 48.1 per cent to 1,239,878 tonnes.
The number of seagoing ships calling at the port last year fell 15.1 per cent compared to the previous year to 13,921. The gross register tonnage decreased 10.2 per cent to 266,270,197 GRT.