Port of Antwerp-Bruges First Half 2026: Container Decline, Geopolitical Impact, and Resilience - News and Statistics

Jul 17, 2026

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges faced a difficult first six months of 2026, with container throughput coming under significant strain and driving an overall reduction in total cargo volumes.

Container Throughput Hit by Operational Issues

In TEU terms, container handling slipped 1.5% relative to an unusually robust first half of 2025. Measured by weight, the decrease reached 3.6%. Shipments of loaded containers for export dropped 5.7%, mirroring the weak export performance of the Western European economy. Meanwhile, empty container movements increased 13.7%, signaling a widening gap between inbound goods and outbound cargo availability.

The downturn was compounded by severe operational interruptions. A four-day work stoppage in the nautical chain during March caused an estimated 100,000 TEU in lost volume. An oil spill at the Deurganck dock in April led to a further loss of roughly 85,000 TEU. Pilot industrial action in June added disruptions, costing an estimated 75,000 TEU. Although the port stayed open through rerouting and schedule changes, it gradually worked through the accumulated backlog.

Geopolitical Shifts Alter Trade Patterns

Middle Eastern geopolitical events clearly reshaped trade routes. Imports from Persian Gulf nations dropped 57% in the first half of 2026 versus the prior year. Energy shipments were hit hardest: after Qatar sent its final LNG cargo on 23 March, flows from the region nearly halted in April, and Qatari LNG exports fell 66%. Container lines revised itineraries and charted alternative paths via the Red Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. As a result, Persian Gulf cargo volumes plunged, while other Middle Eastern ports absorbed some of the traffic. Net cargo losses tied to the Persian Gulf reached about 2.2 million tons in the half-year period. The most significant effects are indirect, including elevated energy, bunker, and transport expenses, plus supply chain strains that further pressure European industry.

U.S. trade policy also left its mark. The United States remained the port’s top trading partner, but full-container imports from the U.S. declined 10.4%, and exports to the U.S. fell 16.5%. Conventional general cargo exports to the U.S., mainly steel, dropped 32%. In contrast, liquid bulk volumes rose, driven by higher LNG and chemical shipments. China continued as a growth market, with increased container traffic, vehicle numbers, and steel deliveries. Russian LNG imports climbed 12.5% ahead of the European import ban set to start in 2027.

Other Cargo Categories Prove Resilient

Beyond container throughput, other segments performed well. RoRo traffic expanded 5.9%, supported by more new vehicles and unaccompanied freight. New vehicle handling increased 7.7% to 1,695,000 units, largely due to gains from China (+25.5%) and Japan (+5.5%). Bulk volumes stayed relatively steady. Dry bulk rose 2.2%, while liquid bulk edged down 1.9% after a sluggish start to the year. Notable shifts within liquid bulk included LNG growth of 1.3% and a 31.3% surge in naphtha. Conventional general cargo remained under pressure, falling 11.7%, because of weak European industrial demand, U.S. steel tariffs, high energy and transport costs, and uncertainty around the CBAM and European import quotas. Higher steel volumes from China (+44.8%) only partly compensated for declines elsewhere.

Rob Smeets, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, stated that the first half demonstrates the port’s continued function as a European gateway even under extraordinary conditions. He observed that trade flows are constantly adjusting to new geopolitical realities, requiring flexibility from the port community and highlighting the need for ongoing investment in capacity, efficient infrastructure, and sustainable logistics. He also noted that the international environment remains highly uncertain, making it essential for Europe to maintain a strong industrial policy and a competitive investment climate.

Dirk De Fauw, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Mayor of Bruges, remarked that the rapid transformation in energy flows underscores the critical complementarity between Antwerp and Zeebrugge. He noted that this complementarity keeps the port a vital node in Europe’s energy and logistics supply chains. Continued investment in infrastructure and sustainable growth, he added, not only strengthens the port but also enhances economic vitality and employment in the region.

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