The Port of Antwerp handled 44,689,362 tonnes of cargo in the first three months of 2007, an increase of 11.8 per cent year on year, said the port authority, adding that March was a record month with a throughput rising to 16,487,457 tonnes.

Container volume grew rising to 1,955,637 TEU, up 17.4 per cent year on year. Again March stood out as a record month for containers rising to 741,255 TEU, up 24.9 per cent over the first quarter in 2006.

Handling activity in the Deurganck container dock expanded greatly, partly the result of continuing congestion and the recent strikes at the rival Port of Rotterdam, a situation which induced "dozens of ships" to go to Antwerp instead.

During the first quarter of 2007, 4,034 ships called at Antwerp, 6.7 per cent more than in the same period last year. Tonnage was also up 10.9 per cent to 69.6 million gross registered tonnes.