High and heavy equipment lifted ro-ro volumes at port of Antwerp-Bruges in the first half of 2026, bucking wider cargo market pressures.
The twin ports handled 133.9 million tonnes of maritime cargo in the first six months of 2026, a decline of 2.4 percent compared with the same period last year.
A combination of geopolitical tensions, trade conflicts, operational disruptions and a difficult economic environment contributed to the results, port authority officials said.
Resilience
Within its breakbulk and project cargo-related activities, ro-ro volumes showed resilience, supported by stronger flows of new vehicles and high and heavy equipment. The performance highlights continued demand for rolling industrial cargoes moving through Antwerp-Bruges’ extensive ro-ro network.
“The first half of the year shows that port of Antwerp-Bruges continues to play its role as a gateway to Europe, even in exceptional circumstances,” said ceo Rob Smeets.
“Trade flows are continually adapting to the new geopolitical reality. This demands flexibility from our port community and underscores the importance of continued investment in capacity, efficient infrastructure and sustainable logistics.
‘Extremely uncertain’
“At the same time, the international context remains extremely uncertain. That is why Europe must continue to focus on a strong industrial policy and a competitive investment climate,” he added.
In contrast to ro-ro, conventional general cargo volumes declined, impacted by lower steel exports to markets including the USA, Mexico and Canada, as well as the introduction of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the EU’s carbon pricing system for certain imported goods like steel and aluminium.
The port also reported pressure on containerised cargo, with disruption from adverse weather, industrial action, geopolitical uncertainty and weaker export conditions in Western Europe affecting volumes.
