While containerised traffic has long been Antwerp’s main dry cargo activity, breakbulk still represents a significant sector and is showing signs of a revival. Last year, the port handled 18.35 mt of conventional cargo, an increase of nearly 3% over 2005. In the first three months of this year, conventional trades grew 13% to 4.99 mt compared to 1Q/2006.
Much of this can be attributed to a surge in Chinese and Indian steel imports, while Russian landings also grew. Last year some 10.53 mt of steel products were handled, up 4% over the previous year’s performance, with imports increasing dramatically by 25% to 4.48 mt. Steel imports may be subject to EU restrictions in future and, at the same time, the Chinese authorities want to limit steel exports to benefit domestic users....
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This complete item is approximately 1800 words in length, and appeared in the May 2007 issue of WorldCargo News, on page 37.
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