North Sea Port remains stable despite geopolitical tensions
Transshipment at North Sea Port has remained virtually stable despite a turbulent international context marked by EU–US trade conflicts, sanctions against Russia and ongoing disruptions in global supply chains. In the first nine months of 2025, companies operating in the port handled 50.1 ion tonnes of goods by sea, a slight decrease of one per cent compared to the same period last year.
"North Sea Port maintains a stable position, despite difficult market conditions, an uneven playing field, and increasing international competition," said CEO Cas König. He added that the port’s diversified activities and strong trade relations with the United Kingdom and Canada have helped sustain performance levels.
Dry and liquid bulk continue to dominate operations. Dry bulk accounted for more than half of total throughput, with a rise of 900,000 tonnes in iron ore transshipment offsetting a drop in coal. Liquid bulk increased by just over one per cent, driven mainly by petroleum products. Container throughput also grew by twelve per cent in tonnage and twenty-five per cent in TEU, thanks in part to higher import volumes from the Caribbean.
The United Kingdom remains the port’s most important trading partner, registering a twelve per cent increase in ro/ro throughput. Canada moved up to second place due to higher iron ore imports.
Inland shipping, which accounts for nearly 60 per cent of transport between the port and the hinterland, fell by almost 5 per cent to 45.9 million tonnes, with notable declines in solid bulk and container traffic.
#FlandersNewsService |North Sea Port in Terneuzen, The Netherlands © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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