In the first quarter of 2026, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 65.5 million tonnes of maritime cargo, down 3.2% compared to the same period of the previous year, the port authority reported on Thursday (23rd). The movement of general cargo, particularly containers and conventional general cargo, fell 4.4%, while bulk cargo declined 0.6% and RoRo traffic increased.
In the first three months of the year, container traffic decreased 5.5% in tonnes and 2.6% in TEUs compared to the same period of the previous year. The port authority attributed the result to the strong movement recorded in 2025, when the restructuring of container alliances generated high inbound volumes, and to the decline in exports from Western Europe.
The port authority also noted that the beginning of the year was marked by extreme weather conditions, with snowstorms and prolonged cold waves in January, followed by storms in the Bay of Biscay until mid-February that interrupted navigation and terminal operations. Additionally, a four-day strike by workers against pension reform had an impact on results. These factors led to vessel diversions to other ports, as well as preventing scheduled port calls due to lack of terminal capacity.
It is estimated that there was a loss of 100,000 TEUs, equivalent to approximately 1.1 million tonnes, in container traffic. However, from mid-February onwards and particularly in March, volumes recovered, highlighting the need for additional container handling capacity.
According to terminal management, general cargo transport also came under pressure mainly due to the decline in steel exports to the United States, Mexico and Canada and the entry into force of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on January 1st. On the other hand, the RoRo segment registered growth, driven by higher volumes of new vehicles and heavy equipment. According to the entity, short-distance RoRo traffic remains affected by the European Union's Emissions Trading System (ETS), particularly over long distances, although the shift to road transport appears to be declining due to rising diesel prices.
Solid bulk transport fell 4.9% in the quarter, due, according to the port authority, among other factors, to a reduction in fertilizer volumes and the disappearance of coal traffic. Liquid bulk transport, in turn, grew 0.2%, thanks to performance in March. Volumes of gasoline, naphtha, fuel oil and LNG increased, but those of diesel, kerosene and LPG declined.
The assessment is that the results are influenced by changes in market conditions, shifts in raw materials, anticipation of the European ban on imports of Russian LNG, as well as geopolitical tensions and market dynamics. And that the flow of chemical products remains under pressure due to the fragility of the European chemical industry.
The direct impact of the Middle East conflict remained limited in the first quarter, and the declines in imports and exports to and from the Persian Gulf, of 12% and 49% respectively, during the period, are attributed largely to climate-related disruptions. But from the end of March the first effects became visible, and on March 23rd, the last LNG tanker from Qatar arrived at Zeebrugge, and container shipping lines adjusted their navigation schedules to alternative ports in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.
Currently, the most significant impact of the war in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is indirect, with rising energy and fuel prices, which further weaken the competitiveness of European industry. At the same time, low gas storage levels in Europe, which will need to be replenished before the next winter, and disruptions in supply chains for certain products are creating additional uncertainties and inflationary pressure.
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