Antwerp remains the ideal location for logistics - Colliers
The Port of Antwerp remains the ideal location for anyone wishing to set up distribution in Europe, even after the expansion of the EU to the East and the growth of consumer markets in eastern and central Europe. This conclusion emerges from the report "Top European Logistics Hubs" issued by the real estate advisor Colliers, said in the port's press release.
Colliers has examined the attractiveness of 40 European cities and regions for logistics companies, now that future economic growth is mainly expected in eastern and central Europe and new transport infrastructure is also being developed there. In its study the real estate consultant took into account the attractiveness of the markets that can be reached from each location, the presence and quality of the transport infrastructure, the presence of specific logistics know-how, the operational costs, the labour market and the general economic climate.
On the basis of these parameters Antwerp remains the most important logistics gateway for Europe, topping Rotterdam and Dsseldorf in the rankings. Despite the rise of central and eastern Europe, cities located within the famous “blue banana” remain dominant.
From Antwerp a market of 143 million people can be reached by truck in 9 hours. In fact 60% of European purchasing power is located within a radius of 500 km around Antwerp. Furthermore, thanks to its location 80 km inland the port of Antwerp offers the fastest, cheapest and least expensive connections with the hinterland.
Antwerp also excels as a multi-capable, major international port. Thanks to the large concentration of handling companies, industrial companies and logistics operators it is able to offer a whole range of added value.
Storage capacity is also very important for logistics services. Antwerp offers space for 15 million container units, 5.6 million m of covered storage space, 680,000 m of silo storage capacity and 6.3 million m of liquid bulk storage. There is also 2 million m of refrigerated storage capacity and a 300,000 m all-weather terminal for sensitive cargoes.
Antwerp even scores very well as a manufacturing location, ranking 6th in the overall list. The top five places are occupied by eastern European locations that benefit from less expensive labour-intensive production. This makes Antwerp the highest-ranking western European location for manufacturing operations.
Best locations for logistics operations
1. Antwerp
2. Rotterdam
3. Dsseldorf
4. Brussels
5. Hamburg
6. Amsterdam
7. Li?
8. Venlo
9. Lille
10. Frankfurt
Best locations for manufacturing operations
1. Kiev
2. Istanbul
3. Bratislava
4. Upper Silesia
5. Sofia
6. Antwerp
7. Lille
8 Budapest
9 Dsseldorf
10 Prague
