Waterway Traffic
Historic record for transshipment in Brussels Port
The balance sheet of the Port’s 25th year as a regional company is extremely positive, seeing that there was an absolute record amount of transshipment in Brussels Port (loading an unloading carried out in the Brussels-Capital Region). For the first time since the Port was founded, more than five million tonnes of freight were handled.
This means an increase in transshipment of 7.7% in comparison with 2017 (+375,000 tonnes), while transit traffic slightly decreased (-15,000 tonnes), resulting in an increase in overall traffic of 5.2% or 7.3 million tonnes. Waterway traffic has a very positive impact in different areas: the tonnages realised in 2018 result in a decrease of almost 680,000 lorries on the road, representing a reduction of CO2 emissions by 160,000 tonnes and of external costs by EUR 27 million.
| 2018 | 2017 | Δ18-17 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels transshipment | 5 223 | 4 848 | +7,7% |
| Transit | 2 061 | 2 076 | -0,7% |
| Total | 7 284 | 6 924 | +5,2% |
Transshipment in 2018 alone exceeds the amount of overall traffic in 1993, the year in which the Port of Brussels was established as a regional company. In 25 years’ time, transshipment in the port of Brussels has increased by 49% (+1.7 million tonnes) and transit traffic by 29% (0.5 million tonnes). This increase comes thanks to the efforts of the Port of Brussels over the years with regard to innovation and generating new traffic: containers, pallets, excavated soil, glass, etc.
The container terminal breaks its historic record - again
With 36,965 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) and an increase of 19% (+5,927 TEU), the Port has again and significantly improved on its 2017 results. 2017 was a record year since the beginning of the operation of the terminal.
Container traffic stays in third place and building materials remain by far the most important sector in Brussels port traffic with slightly more than 60% of the trade, followed by oil products (23%).
Export on the rise
Despite export being less important than import, it is still showing a good increase of 31% (+328,000 tonnes). This increase is mainly due to the efforts of the Port of Brussels and the public authorities to stimulate the modal shift of soil excavated along the waterway, in order to make this transport take place on the waterway instead of on the road.
In/out (in million tonnes)
| 2018 | 2017 | Δ18-17 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In | 3 872 | 3 809 | + 2 % |
| Out | 1 350 | 1 027 | + 31% |
| Local | 1 | 12 | - 92% |
| Transshipment | 5 223 | 4 848 | +7,7% |
The Netherlands is still in the lead
Over the years, the Netherlands has remained by far the most important trading partner of the Port of Brussels with 6% of the waterway traffic. In second and third place are Belgium and Germany.
Conclusions
2018 was the year in which the Port of Brussels celebrated its 25th anniversary and it has turned out to be a grand cru year indeed. Overall traffic has not increased in comparison to its record year of 2008, but the transshipment has never been as good in these 25 years as it was in 2018. The figures confirm that the Port of Brussels is doing well and offers excellent alternative mobility in Brussels.