In 2025, companies in North Sea Port recorded a cargo transhipment via sea transport of 67 million tonnes. The growth in dry and liquid bulk in particular led to a slight increase of +0.4% for the second year in a row. The United Kingdom remains the most important trading partner. In order to maintain its position as a leading European port, CEO Cas König calls on the business and political world to accelerate the realisation of port infrastructure.
Thanks to a strong fourth quarter, goods transhipment in 2025 increased compared to 2024. That year also saw a slight increase, but 2025 clearly confirms the port's resilience.
The slight increase is thanks to North Sea Port's unique position as a bulk port: both dry bulk and liquid bulk transhipment increased. Together, they still account for no less than three-quarters of maritime goods transhipment and continue to form a crucial buffer in times of uncertainty.
Dry bulk increased for the second year in a row (+2.1%) and continues to represent more than half (55%) of transhipment. The increase is mainly due to iron ore, fertilisers and scrap metal. However, there has been a decline in products for the construction sector (less sand, gravel and clay, cement and lime). Liquid bulk transhipment increased (+1.9%) and accounts for more than a fifth of total maritime transhipment (22%) thanks to the increase in biofuels, urea, animal oils and fats, and kerosene. In recent years, however, we have seen a decline in raw materials for the chemical industry. Breakbulk declined (-8.7%), partly due to fewer machines, engines and appliances, and unprocessed paper and cardboard. This segment continues to account for 14% of transhipment. The transhipment of rolling stock, ro/ro, remains at the same level for the fifth year and accounts for the same share of goods transhipment (6%). Container transhipment grew in tonnes (+7.8%). The share of containers in transhipment remains the same (3%).
The ratio of imports to exports in maritime transhipment is 70% to 30%, with the share of exports increasing slightly over the years.
In 2025, Great Britain once again took the top spot as North Sea Port's most important trading partner. The very strong increase in trade with Canada (+30%), which puts it in second place, is striking. North Sea Port has been working closely with several Canadian ports since 2018. Trade with the United States declined for the third year in a row (-3.7%), putting the USA in third place.
Exports to Russia have almost completely come to a standstill. Imports concern goods that are not subject to EU sanctions.
In 2025, the North Sea Port authority issued no less than 55 hectares – which is exceptionally high. This underlines the fact that the port authority needs to make efficient use of the scarce space in the port. On the one hand, priority is given to developing and expanding sites within the port area for port and water-related activities. On the other hand, the focus is on acquiring and developing sufficient space to enable the growth of companies that contribute to the energy and raw materials transition and sustainable logistics.
In 2026, the port authority anticipates mainly issuing permits for projects on the Deep-C Circular site in Vlissingen (the former Thermphos site) and the Kluizendok in Ghent.
Transhipment via inland waterways declined by 4.3% in 2025, after experiencing substantial growth of several percent in 2024. No less than 60% of all freight transport between North Sea Port and the European hinterland still takes place via inland waterways.
The total transhipment for maritime shipping (67 million tonnes) and inland shipping (61.5 million tonnes) in North Sea Port will then be 128.5 million tonnes.
Today, North Sea Port already occupies a strong position within Western Europe. Maintaining and strengthening that impact and position requires, above all, future-oriented port infrastructure. North Sea Port is considering improving the nautical accessibility of the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal for larger ships, so that the opportunities for shipping created by the New Lock can be exploited to the full. This involves deepening the first 1.5 kilometres of the Canal to the Massagoedhaven (a dock) in Terneuzen for deeper-draught vessels, as well as making the necessary adjustments to allow wider vessels to sail safely to Ghent.
But the story does not end on the water. The construction of a new railway line between Ghent and Terneuzen, along the right bank of the Canal, is a strategic lever for sustainable logistics and competitiveness. In addition, North Sea Port is building a port with a strong energy mix: offshore wind farms and their landing points, pipelines for the transport of hydrogen and CO₂, among other things, and targeted investments in sustainability projects that reconcile industry and climate ambitions.
Cas König, CEO of North Sea Port: "Once the infrastructure is in place, the economy will follow. That is why we are making this clear appeal. To businesses: keep investing, dare to look ahead and realise the plans that are already on the table today. To politicians: take the necessary decisions to further expand the port infrastructure and ensure an efficient, stable and decisive licensing policy. It is important that we then involve the surrounding area in the developments in such a way that investments are not only licensed, but also actually awarded.”
And where there is growth, safety must also be a priority. Physical security for businesses, the fight against subversion and drug-related crime, attention to military security and cybersecurity are not peripheral conditions, but the foundations of a future-proof port.
This ambition is clearly present in Flanders, where the powers of “Ports” and “Industry” have been specifically assigned to a member of the government. Perhaps this could be an inspiration for the new Dutch government?
By working together across borders and accelerating the realisation of port infrastructure, North Sea Port can maintain and strengthen its role as a leading European port. A port that seizes opportunities on European transport corridors, strengthens chain connections, anchors employment and prosperity in the region, and grows in a targeted manner towards becoming a climate-neutral and safe port.
The ambition is clear. Now it is time to realise it together.
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