By Theo Notteboom
The very recent merger between the port of Ghent in Belgium and Zeeland Seaports in the Netherlands has an impact of the position of the Rhine-Scheldt Delta port system in Europe.
The Delta now counts no less than 4 of the 10 largest ports in Europe in terms of total port throughput in metric tons
The Delta now counts no less than 4 of the 10 largest ports in Europe in terms of total port throughput in metric tons. The new North Sea Port handled 62 million tons in 2016. The Delta ports together handled 885 million tons and nearly 24 million TEU in 2016. Next to the very large and highly diversified ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, the Delta contains leading ports in specific niches and commodities such as the handling of new cars, energy, biomass/biofuel, breakbulk, etc. Large logistics parks can be found in and around the ports and along the corridors to the hinterland, making the elta region the number one logistics hub in Europe.
