Port of Antwerp starts its Roadshow through Russia
From 15 to 20 November 2015, the Port of Antwerp is conducting a roadshow through Russia – from Moscow to Saint Petersburg, the Port says. Thanks to a wide range of short sea and feeder connections, Port of Antwerp is well connected to Russia.
The traffic between Russia and the Port of Antwerp has been growing in almost all categories. Between Antwerp and Russia, 9,718,154 tons have been handled in the first nine months of 2015. This corresponds to a growth of 3.7 percent compared to the same period last year. Antwerp has built up many years of expertise in handling chemicals, steel and project cargo from Russia while also offering a wide range of added value services such as packaging and consolidation management. “Russia is the third-largest trading partner of the Port of Antwerp and for a long time, the two countries have seen each other as great business partners,” said Marc Van Peel, Chairman of the Antwerp Port Authority and Vice-Mayor of the City of Antwerp. “Already in the early twentieth century, more than 500 Russian ships called at the Port of Antwerp every year. Belgian engineers built the first tramway lines in various Russian cities, and tram lines imported from Belgium were used until the 1960s.”
In order to consolidate the existing and to enhance new business relationships between Antwerp and the Russian market, the port is conducting a roadshow from Moscow to Saint Petersburg from 15 to 20 November 2015. The delegation from Antwerp visiting Russia during the roadshow counts 30 members from 20 different companies including forwarders, terminal operators as well as shipping agents. The delegation’s aim is to raise brand awareness and create network opportunities. Further objectives are to inform the local industry about services in Antwerp and to strengthen the network with policy-making partners.
The following examples underline the strong business connection between Antwerp and Russia: EuroChem for instance, a major Russian agrochemical company, owns production facilities of fertilizers in the Port of Antwerp. Igor Nechaev, Managing Director and Head of the Logistic Division at EuroChem Russia, stated: “Eurochem and the Port of Antwerp have a strong and mutually beneficial partnership. Thanks to its location in the industrial area of the port, EuroChem Antwerp’s production facility benefits from favourable logistics and necessary infrastructure, including dedicated jetty access. EuroChem’s cargo turnover at the Port of Antwerp totals four million tons per year. We are pleased with our partnership with the port and, in the future, we plan to use the port areas to develop further production capabilities and the capacity to handle raw materials and finished products.” Igor Nechaev and Filip Dejongh, Managing Director of EuroChem Antwerp, will represent the company during the press conference in Moscow.
The Belgian company Ahlers is an international logistics and maritime service provider. They invested in their own warehousing facilities in Saint Petersburg. Stefan Van Doorslaer, General Director Ahlers CIS & Baltic States, said: “The visit of the Port of Antwerp to Saint Petersburg is a strong sign underlining the importance of the trade between the two ports and their long-term cooperation. Ahlers, with its roots and Headquarters in the versatile Port of Antwerp, transformed itself over the last 100 years into a leading logistics service partner. With its strong presence in Antwerp, Ahlers handles various cargoes from Antwerp to Saint Petersburg, from where it is transported further into Russia and Central Asia.” Van Doorslaer will be speaking at the press conference in Saint Petersburg.
