AHMEDABAD (Commodity Online): Even as the global economic recovery holds an uncertain outlook, the port activity at one of the key gateways to European Union (EU), the Port of Antwerp looks upbeat with more and more cargoes hitting the inland port of Belgium.

The shipping activity across the globe has once again raised concerns of slowdown as the key indicator of the shipping activity across the globe, Baltic Dry Index (BDI) showing a deep fall to 1700 in July from its recent peak of over 4000 points in May 2010.

However, the cargo handling at one of the largest ports in Europe, the Port of Antwerp has seen steady recovery from its lows in 2009. Raj Khalid, a representative of Port of Antwerp in India, maintained that the shipping activity in the region had risen steadily. Although he asserted that some downward impact was there in cargo handling in 2009 due to global slowdown, but the overall mood is still upbeat and growing.

In an interaction with CommodityOnline, Khalid said, “Our annual cargo handling was registered at 193 million tonnes in 2008, which fell to about 158 million tonnes in 2009. But with recovery in most of the regions in the world, we expect the 2010 to end with a robust growth of about 20-22% in cargo handling at 188-190 million tonnes.”

The port is expanding its terminal capacities. “Looking at the pace of growth in cargo shipments, we would require additional space for maritime, storage and logistic services. The port is developing projects on about 1000 hectares of land, which will be the final expansion on this location,” informed Khalid, who visited Ahmedabad on Friday to meet Ahmedabad Custom House Agents.

The port gets about 5 million tonnes of traffic from India, which is expected to rise with steady growth in Indian exports to European Union. The port handles largest container cargo with over 50% share in total cargo handling.

The Port of Antwerp had joined hands with India’s leading private sector port, Mundra Port and SEZ Ltd for technical and training partnership. “Mundra wants to do, what we did in 200 years, in 20 years and I think they will be able to achieve it,” maintained Khalid adding that a group of 20 people from Mundra Port will soon visit Antwerp for training purpose.

Speaking about future plans for investments in India, Khalid said, “We do visualize opportunity in India’s port sector and will look for good deal. But as of now there are no plans on the cards as such.” The port has its representative offices in Mumbai and recently opened in Pune.

Ravi Joshi, President, Ahmedabad Custom House Agents’ Association told CommodityOnline, “There is ample opportunity for trade through Port of Antwerp. We believe the cost aspect and its logistical linkages with main lands would make it a preferred gateway.”

“Recently in September, a group of 16 people from the Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Association in India (FFFAI) will make a visit to Antwerp which will be followed by another visit of a group of representative from Ahmedabad Custom House Agents Association in November this year,” he said.

Jean Joel Schittecatte, the Consul General of Belgium was also present at the event and expressed the willingness for both the countries to come together in trade relations. “We are extending partnership with Indian values and we should further try to work together to put these values in practice in front of the world. With this objective we also have a Customs Attache from Belgium present in India so as to assist trade practice between the two countries.”

While Belgium is one of the small European countries, the nation has emerged as key gateway to the entire region of 27 countries of EU conglomerate. The port covers nearly 13,000 hectares of land with largest covered storage facilities of 5.4 million m2, including liquid cargo storage facility for edible oils, bio-fuel, crude oil.

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