The Port of Antwerp, the second largest port in Europe, expects a 10 per cent growth in cargo volume from India, said the port's India representative, Raj Khalid, reported the Hindu.

So far, up to August end, the port handled over six million tonnes of Indian cargo, which is about 15 per cent more than the volume logged during the corresponding year-ago period.

In addition, Indian cargo is being transhipped through Colombo and the West Asia ports to Antwerp.

Antwerp, which is well-connected through rail and road, has emerged as a gateway port for Indian exports to Europe, as its economical for Indian exporters to distribute their goods to all parts of Europe through the port.

Exporters from Nagpur, Ludhiana, Tuticorin and Pune prefer Antwerp to other ports as the overall cost of reaching the goods to the final destination works out cheaper.

Antwerp offers warehousing and other support services to exporters at a substantially lower cost, Khalid said.
Indian cargoes to Europe include textile, steel, chemicals, auto components and granite.


Several shipping lines including Shipping Corporation of India operate direct container services from India to Antwerp.

Cargonews Asia