Antwerp reports record volumes in 2008

Antwerp reports record volumes in 2008 The Belgian Port of Antwerp said it would handle 190 million ton of freight, 4 percent more than in 2007 and the seventh record year in a row.
   'The figures for the first nine months were excellent, and while the last quarter clearly showed the effects of the downturn in the world economy, the port of Antwerp continued to do relatively well,' the port said in a statement
   Containerized freight reached 8.6 million TEUs, 6 percent more than the previous year. Measured in weight, the port handled 102 million tons of containerized freight, 7.7 percent more than in 2007.
   Roll-on/roll-off cargo volume remained almost the same as in 2007, with 4.4 million tons of wheeled freight. During the past year 339,000 cars were imported and 612,000 exported, with the total volume up by just over 1 percent.
   Conventional/breakbulk freight was down by 15 percent to nearly 17 million tons. The volume of bulk freight was up by 5.1 percent to 67.4 million tons, while liquid bulk volumes were flat at 39.5 million tons.