In the first quarter of this year, freight traffic in the Antwerp-Bruges port system amounted to 65.5 million tons, with a decrease of -3.2% over the same period in 2025 that - noted the Belgian Port Authority - must be contextualized both in relation to the comparison with a beginning of 2025 when the restructuring of the alliances of the shipping companies of the container sector had generated high volumes of inbound both with regard to the effects of weaker exports from Western Europe. The Port Authority recalled, In addition, the beginning of 2026 was characterized by extreme weather conditions, with a snowstorm and a prolonged cold spell in January followed by strong storms in the Bay of Biscay until mid-February which interrupted both maritime and terminal operations. This has been achieved added a four-day strike against the reform of the pensions.

In the first three months of 2026, containerized traffic alone in the Belgian port recorded a decrease of -5.5% to 36.3 million tons for 3.4 million TEU containers handled (-2,6%). The decline in goods is more pronounced which totalled two million tonnes, with a decrease of -7.9% mainly caused - specified The Port Authority - from the decline in steel exports to key markets such as the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as well as of the entry into force on 1 January of the Mechanism of Carbon Border Adjustment (CBAM). Rolling stock, with 5.4 million tons, marked a growth of +5.3% which - explained the Authority - was driven by higher volumes of new vehicles and heavy equipment, while ro-ro traffic continues to be affected by the effects of the application of the maritime transport of the ETS emissions trading system particularly on longer routes. Increasing is the movement of new cars was also found with about 900 thousand vehicles (+8.7%). In the bulk sector, liquid cargoes are remained stable at 18.5 million tonnes, with a slight increase of +0.2% supported by a strong performance at March, while dry bulk fell by -4.9% to 3.3 million tonnes due, inter alia, to the reduction in the volume of fertilizers and the elimination of coal trafficking.

The Belgian port authority has highlighted that these trends are influenced by changing market conditions, changes in the in raw materials, by the anticipation of the import ban of Russian liquefied natural gas by Europe, as well as geopolitical tensions and market dynamics such as the backwardation.

As noted by the Port Authority of Rotterdam in relation to the Dutch port, also for the port of Antwerp-Bruges the direct impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East Oriente was limited in the first quarter of 2026, with a drop of -12% in imports and -49% in exports to and from the Persian Gulf that occurred in the period which is largely attributable to disruptions in the operations due to adverse weather conditions. The Belgian authority specified that, however, since the end of March the The first effects have become visible: the last ship for the liquefied natural gas from Qatar is arrived in Zeebrugge on 23 March and the airlines changed their navigation programs by moving to alternative ports in Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. Currently, it has observed the entity - the most significant impact of the conflict and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is indirect, through the increase in energy and fuel prices, with increases in bunkering and transport costs that further weaken competitiveness of European industry.