North Sea Port Records 13% Surge in Container Traffic in Q2 2026

## North Sea Port Records 13% Surge in Container Traffic in Q2 2026 North Sea Port has posted a strong second-quarter performance, recording a 13 per cent increase in container traffic between April and June 2026, according to Port Technology. The result marks a significant rebound for the Belgium-Netherlands port authority following a weaker opening quarter that had tempered expectations for the full year. Total seaborne cargo volumes handled across the port reached 16.8 million tonnes during the period, as operators across the facility capitalised on recovering trade flows and improved vessel call frequencies. ### A Welcome Turnaround The Q2 figures represent a meaningful inflection point for North Sea Port, which spans the Ghent and Terneuzen regions and serves as a key gateway for bulk, liquid, and containerised cargo into the heart of northwest Europe. The return to year-on-year growth in overall seaborne volumes will be welcomed by port stakeholders after the first quarter fell short of prior-year comparisons. The double-digit rise in container throughput is particularly noteworthy, reflecting broader trends across European container ports where demand has shown resilience despite ongoing macroeconomic headwinds, including elevated freight costs and shifting global supply chain patterns. ### Broader Market Context North Sea Port's Q2 recovery aligns with improving sentiment across several European port hubs, where container volumes have benefited from restocking activity and a degree of trade route normalisation following disruptions linked to Red Sea diversions in 2024 and early 2025. Ports positioned along the northern European range have increasingly captured cargo that might previously have transited via southern European gateways. The port's diverse cargo mix — encompassing dry bulk, liquid bulk, roll-on/roll-off, and containerised freight — provides a degree of resilience that pure container terminals lack, and the Q2 data suggests that strength was broad-based rather than confined to a single segment. ### Outlook While a single quarter's data does not confirm a sustained trend, the 13 per cent container growth figure positions North Sea Port favourably heading into the second half of 2026. Port operators and logistics providers serving the Ghent-Terneuzen corridor will be watching closely to see whether the momentum can be maintained as seasonal demand patterns and global trade conditions evolve. *Source: Port Technology*