Record freight volume 2014 Port of Antwerp
The advantages of Antwerp
The port of Antwerp has long proved very attractive to customers thanks to its favourable location. Because it is located relatively far inland it combines the advantages of a seaport, where the largest ships in the world can dock easily, with the characteristics of an inland hub offering close proximity to the main European centres of production and consumption. In 2014 a number of shipping companies decided to expand their services by adding a first call in Antwerp, thus attracting even more import cargo and ensuring a better balance with Antwerp’s existing export activities. Indeed the port is widely known for its export-generating capacity. The well-balanced presence of both import and export volumes makes Antwerp very attractive for shippers who also appreciate its cost-efficiency and sustainability.
When it comes to conventional cargo Antwerp offers more than 2 kilometres of dedicated quays along with automated warehouses and cold storage capacity for more than 90,000 pallets. And Antwerp dock workers are renowned for their productivity, able to achieve handling rates of 2500 pallets per ship, a performance unequalled anywhere in Europe. For reefer container handling there are six container terminals available with more than 10 km of dedicated quays and over 7000 reefer plugs. The 7 hectare depot/repair shop for its part is unique. And with a crane productivity of 40 moves per crane per hour no other port in Europe is able to rival Antwerp.
Whether carried in conventional or reefer containers, perishables benefit form a truly impressive range of added value activities: from quality control to inventory management, from packing and repacking to palletising and repalletising, the port of Antwerp offers everything. In order to further streamline the flow of goods, the port of Antwerp has worked hard in recent years to refine its Customs procedures so as to avoid any unnecessary loss of time. It also invested heavily in tools for electronic communication to improve efficiency throughout the supply chain.
Clearly, cost and time efficiency are not just marketing proposals for the port of Antwerp, they are genuine advantages based on serious efforts to make them a reality, day after day. The result of all these efforts is that Antwerp is by far the most important perishables port in Europe. Not for nothing is it Europe’s largest banana port!
Expertise Centre for Fruit & Perishables
Three years ago the Expertise Centre for Fruit & Perishables was founded by the Port of Antwerp as a joint effort of the Antwerp port community. The goal is to improve the service for fruit and perishables in the Port of Antwerp in a sustainable way.
“The 30 members of the Expertise Centre will keep focusing on continuous improvement of the cold chain through Antwerp as well as on the promotion of this vital link in the supply chain.
Focus areas are South Africa, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil. We want to increase our import volumes of fresh produce, especially in the container segment which, as everybody is aware, will account for nearly all growth in the next years,” explains Wim Dillen, senior business development manager at Antwerp Port Authority.
For more information:
Annik Dirkx
Port of Antwerp
T +32 3 205 23 09
M +32 479 79 46 50
Email: annik.dirkx@portofantwerp.com
www.portofantwerp.com