In the second half of last year, the port of Antwerp-Bruges registered a significant influx of steel, while imports have recently stabilized, according to Kallanish from the port authority.
The first half of 2025 was characterized by what the port calls a "clear decrease in transshipment volumes (in both directions, at the entrance and exit) in the first six months (by 4.6%)" of general cargo, including steel. In the middle of the year, steel prices fell even more, by 11.7%. But then, in the third and especially in the fourth quarter, transshipment volumes increased significantly, which means that the annual decline decreased to 1.7%, mainly due to a decrease in exports, while imports increased by 6.7%.
The administration clearly attributes this increase in the second half of the year to the expectation of tougher European trade measures against dumping and the introduction of the Carbon Boundary Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). This confirms the arguments of many observers in the roll market, who reported an increase in purchases, which has kept stocks full so far.
Steel imports from China increased by 22% to 700,000 tons in 2025, making China the largest supplier. It is followed by India (680,000 tons, -9.2%), Turkey (513,000 tons, +121%) and Vietnam (490,000 tons, +13.3%). At the same time, exports remained under pressure, declining by 13.9% due to weaker exports to the United States (-7.8%) and Mexico (-25.1%).
Author: Christian Kehl, Germany
Kallanish.com
