North Sea Port: Full year results for 2020 -plus new rail developments

North Sea Port reported 63.5 million tons of cargo transhipment from maritime shipping (-11.2%) in 2020. In 2020, the Dutch-Flemish port recorded a decrease of 8 million tonnes compared to 2019.

Annual Results 2020

  • Dry bulk fell by -6% in 2020 to 32.5 million tonnes, mainly seen in solid fuels (petcoke, coal and anthracite) and iron ore.

  • Container handling increased by 4.3% to 2.7 million tonnes.

  • Liquid bulk traffic fell by -19.3% to 16.2 million tonnes, mainly in petroleum products.

  • General cargo fell by -15% to 9.3 million tons. Half of the decrease was due to cellulose, but there were also lower volumes of rolled steel and some construction goods such as bricks.

  • Ro-ro transport dropped by 16.8% to 2.7 million tonnes. This was mainly due to reduced production and export in the auto sector.

In 2021, the outlook is more optimistic and the port expects to recover to 2019 levels.

Approval of Terneuzen-Ghent Rail Connection Upgrade

In February 2021 it was also announced that North Sea Port would get approval for upgrading the rail connection between terneuzen (NL) and Ghent(BE). They have set out three infrastructure projects: (1) a new connection on the east bank between Axel(NL) and Zelzate(BE), (2) a new south-east curve on the east track of the Sluiskil bridge, and (3) the extension and opening up to the north of the rail sidings at Kluizendok (Zandeken). The Netherlands and Belgium/Flanders will together provide 4 million euros (50/50) for the further planned elaboration of the Ghent-Terneuzen railway.

North Sea Port now included in the NSM RFC

In terms of hinterland links North Sea Port will now be included in the NSB rail freight corridor. It was already in the North Sea Mediterranean (NSMED) and Rhine-Alpine (RALP) rail freight corridors. The NSB corridor is becoming increasingly important due to the expansion of traffic on the New Silk Road across Russia, Central Asia to China.