Belgium's land freight modes (road, rail and inland waterway) are due to start their recovery in 2011 after three consecutive years of decline. The recovery will be steady and will be completed over BMI's medium term forecast period, to 2015. Belgium is a highly developed freight transport market and so there are fewer areas for expansion compared with freight transport markets in emerging states. A major part of country's freight role is to act as a conduit for goods to other European states via its main port, Antwerp. The port is a maritime gateway and a transhipment hub and is Europe's second largest port in terms of throughput. Growth in demand is projected, but the port must continue its dredging initiatives to maintain it role in the global maritime sector as vessels are set to only get bigger.
On land, Belgium's freight transport sector is dominated by the road haulage sector, with the mode projected by BMI to account for 65.9% of Belgium's total freight transported. This is set to continue over the medium term, although we highlight the push by the EU to move freight from road onto other modes. Both rail and inland waterway stand to benefit from this, with BMI highlighting the massive potential of Belgium's inland waterways to play a greater role in the country's freight transport mix.
Headline Industry Data
?? 2011 air freight tonnage is expected to grow 12.52%, with medium-term (2011-2015) growth of 54.9% projected.
?? 2011 rail freight is forecast to grow 1.65%, with medium-term growth of 7%.
?? 2011 road freight is forecast to grow 1.2%, with medium-term growth of 2.4%.
?? 2011 inland waterway freight is forecast to grow 1.26%, with medium-term growth of 6% projected.
?? 2011 Port of Antwerp throughput is forecast at 2.46%, with medium-term growth of 26%.
?? 2011 total real trade growth is forecast at 5.65%.
Key Industry Trends
Antwerp Digging deep The port of Antwerp's dredging project has enabled the port to handle much larger vessel catering for large bulk carriers and 13,000TEU container ships. A major trend in the global shipping sector is to develop mega vessels in order to cut fuel, time and crewing costs and ports in our view must keep up or else they will soon lose out to their neighbours who are prepared to dredge deeper and expand their facilities to meet their client's needs.
Full Steam Ahead For Asia-Europe Rail Connection Belgium is no longer just connected to China my ship and plane the country is now linked by rail across 10,000km. The drive to link China with Europe is a trend in evidence across Europe, with Russian transport firms the major benefiters. Rail is quicker then ship and therefore offers a quicker logistics option.
Key Risks To Outlook
Any slowing in the recovery of the eurozone economies will hit Belgium's freight transport sector hard. The main destinations for the country's exports are its neighbours and eurozone majors Germany, France and the Netherlands. Any tick down in demand in Europe would also negatively impact throughput volumes at the port of Antwerp. With the facility functioning as a major transhipment hub and maritime gateway for goods into Europe the port is a bellwether for the strength of European demand.
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