New record in the reefer segment for Port of Antwerp-Bruges in 2025
Port of Antwerp-Bruges closes 2025 with a recordyear for the reefer segment. In total, the port handled 1.170.394 TEU of reefercontainers, the highest volume ever recorded. This represents an increase of 0.6% compared to 2024. The growth is primarily driven by a rise in importvolumes, which increased by 13.5%.
Export volumes of reefer containers remain largely stable (0.9%) and represent 35% of the total volume. Transshipment decreased slightly (-4.4%), due to changes in shipping schedules by carriers. In total, nearly one in ten containers arriving at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is a fully operational reefer container. This underlines the importance of the Cold Chain to the port.
Conventional refrigerated transport shows a strong annual growth of 4.9%. While imports show a slight decline (-0.7%), exports of conventional refrigerated goods exhibit a significant increase (+52.5%). This reflects both strong market demand and a well-developed logistics network.
Approximately 90% of reefer imports consist of freshproducts, including fruit, vegetables, and meat/fish. The majority of these goods originate from Latin America. Panama recorded strong growth this year (+122.8%), while imports from South Africa also increased significantly (+36.2%). In terms of exports, the United States remains the most important destination. Exports of fruit and vegetables to Egypt rose sharply (+206.7%).Morocco shows remarkable growth, both as a country of origin and as a destination. In contrast, Ecuador recorded a decline in import volume (-21.8%),and exports to Russia decreased (-25.4%).
Exports from Europa, mainly Belgium, theNetherlands, Germany, and France, consist primarily of frozen products shippedto various destinations across multiple continents.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ Cold Chain approach washighlighted during Fruit Logistica in Berlin. The port was represented alongside eight co-exhibitors: BNFW, De Ridder-Vanpaemel, DPS, Eurofruitports, Fresh Connection, Gate4EU, Geodis, GTS. Their joint presence underscored thestrength of collaboration within the reefer cluster.
“Our joint presence at Fruit Logistica shows that the success of our reefer traffic is truly a story of the entire port community. The fact that nearly one in ten containers arriving at our port is a fully operational reefer shows how crucial temperature-controlled logistics has become today, and how strong we stand together in this field.” – said Tineke Van de Voorde, Key Account Manager Port of Antwerp-Bruges.