After the pandemic and international trade conflicts saw the volume of general cargo in the Port of Antwerp freefall in 2020, renewable energy projects that are part of the EU Green Deal are bringing exponential growth.
Conventional general cargo grew by 74% in 2021, according to a press release from the Port of Antwerp.
The main reason for this is an unprecedented increase in the quantities of steel imported, along with an increase in project cargo that “has everything to do with the ongoing renewable energy projects and the construction of chemical plants.”
Green Deal projects in renewable energy
The 'Fit for 55' package and various measures the EU is taking to become carbon neutral are leading to industry changes and investments in renewable energy.
“Port of Antwerp is home to an impressive chemical cluster and expects many new developments here,” the Port said.
The port is well situated for transporting project cargo to and from Europe, for example for power plants in Germany or northern France.
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Parts for wind turbines with destination France, for example, are regularly transported via Antwerp, where various specialised service providers ensure the careful handling of rotor blades, hubs, nacelles, motors and tower parts.
Heavy components shipped via barge for transport to a power station in Germany, and industrial furnaces that are made in Germany and shipped to China, both pass through Antwerp, too.
“In addition to [a] trend of de-containerisation, the global economic recovery is also driving steel figures upwards and the transport of project cargo is being boosted by the measures Europe is taking to fulfil its climate ambitions,” Ann De Smet, Key Account Manager at Port of Antwerp explained.
