The number of maritime containers in Belgium exhibited an overall upward trend from 2013 to 2023, highlighting significant growth in container traffic. In 2023, the volume stood at 12.631 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), reflecting a year-on-year increase of 2.66%. Notably, the average annual growth rate (CAGR) over the last five years was 2.4%, indicating consistent moderate growth.
From 2013 to 2023, the growth trends varied, with remarkable increases observed in 2018 and 2019, with year-on-year variations of 8.6% and 8.74% respectively. Conversely, 2022 saw a slight decline of 3.33% year-on-year. Despite some fluctuations, the market has remained resilient with an upward trend that resumed in 2023.
Looking ahead, forecasts suggest a steady growth trajectory with a forecasted CAGR of 1.47% from 2024 to 2028, reaching 13.851 million TEUs by 2028. This represents an overall growth rate of 7.54% over the five-year period, underscoring a positive sentiment for future expansion.
Future trends to watch for include the impact of global supply chain disruptions, technological advancements in shipping logistics, environmental regulations, and trade policy changes. Monitoring these factors will be crucial in evaluating the robustness of future growth in Belgium's maritime container industry.
