Antwerp promotes its advantages as most important European port for

Shipping trade between Antwerp and Turkey has grown by an average of 16% annually over the past decade. In 2009 some 10 million tonnes of freight were carried between Antwerp and various ports in Turkey. In order to further develop its role as the most important European port for Turkey, Antwerp Port Authority organised a Port Day on Monday, 10 May in Istanbul.

With this event the Port Authority and Alfaport Antwerp aimed to give industrial and logistics entrepreneurs in Turkey a better idea of the features and advantages offered by the port of Antwerp. The event was opened by Port alderman Marc Van Peel and the Belgian ambassador to Turkey H.E. De Witte. Afterwards there was plenty of opportunity for networking and exchanging experience.

Out of the 10 million tonnes passing through Antwerp last year to or from Turkey, about 8 million tonnes was carried in containers. The container volume amounted to 700,000 TEU, mainly carrying electronics, steel products, chemicals, car parts, textiles and fruit. Other significant freight categories included scrap metal and ore. Thanks to the growth in freight volume Turkey is now Antwerp’s third-largest trading partner after the USA and the UK, with imports accounting for nearly 47% and exports just over 53%.

For Turkey, Antwerp has developed in recent years into the European port. In 2000 Antwerp was only the second most important port for Turkey, with a market share of 23%, but now it is the European leader by a long way with a share of nearly 58%.

Antwerp, 10 May 2010