Record volumes for Port of Antwerp in 2013Record volumes for Port of Antwerp in 2013

The results were driven by rises in the volume of liquid bulk, up 31.4% throughout 2013 to 59.5mt, with crude oil handling rising 83.4% to 4.6mt, oil derivatives by 34.8% to 43.1mt, and chemicals up by 9.7%, to 11.2mt.

These were enough to mitigate decreases in dry bulk and container volumes; dry bulk fell 24.8% to 14.4mt, due to decreasing coal handling, which fell 62% to 2.2mt, and containers dropped by 0.7% to 8.6m teu.

Meanwhile, the number of ocean going vessels calling at the port totalled 14,220, representing a decrease of 2.3% over 2012. This was partially due to the increase in economies of scale, with 31 more Ultra-Large Container Ships (10,000 or more teu) calling than in 2012.

The port indicates that 2014 is “off to a good start” with a call from  China Shipping's 14,074 teu CLSL Jupiter.