In the first two months of 2013 the port of Antwerp reached a new peak in the volume of liquid bulk handled, at 9,426,920 tonnes. The main driving force behind the increase came from petroleum derivatives. January ended with 4,566,815 tonnes of liquid bulk, which represents a doubling in 20 years (from 2,299,786 tonnes in January 1992). In February the figures climbed further to 4,860,105 versus 2,039,720 tonnes in February 1992. Compared with the same period in 2012 the segment experienced growth of 37%. The expansion was largely due to previous investments by various companies in the port of Antwerp. Further investments announced for the future confirm the confidence in the port and will further propel the growth of Antwerp.

One important advantage enjoyed by Antwerp is its dynamic tank storage facilities. The port offers more than 6.3 million m³ of storage for energy companies, traders and chemical manufacturers around the world, who increasingly opt for Antwerp as the location for their distribution hubs for petroleum and chemical products. Indeed Antwerp has the largest amount of stainless steel tanks in Europe, vital for storing chemical liquids and gases. The storage facilities enable industrial clusters in Germany, southern Netherlands and northern France to be supplied quickly and efficiently.

Another factor contributing to the rise in volume of liquid bulk is represented by the efforts to ensure efficient control of shipping traffic within the port. This combined with the flexibility of service providers, world-leading safety performance and best practices offers convincing arguments for opting for Antwerp as a European distribution hub. Further advantages include the local production cluster for petrochemical raw materials, increasing supplies of raw materials by sea, the favourable location of Antwerp and its rail, barge and pipeline connections.