New Transportation market report from Business Monitor International: "Belgium Freight Transport Report Q1 2014"

Boston, MA -- (SBWire) -- 02/04/2014 --Following a year in which BMI believes saw increasing volumes in most of the freight modes, 2014 will signal more pronounced growth across the whole freight transport sector, although it will continue struggling to return to pre-downturn levels.

Total trade is projected to pick up with our Country Risk desk forecasting a y-o-y increase of 4.0% in 2014 following an estimated growth of 1.4% in 2013.

Road freight is to continue to dominate the sector and is projected to grow by 0.5% in 2014. The mode did not manage to defy the downturn and so far appears to be struggling to recover to its pre-2008 volumes. BMI notes that inland waterway freight fully recovered its 2006 levels thanks to two years of strong growth. The return to growth in box throughput is projected at the country's major seaports.

Headline Industry Data

- 2014 Air freight tonnage is expected to grow by 2.2%
- 2014 Rail freight is forecast to grow by 3.0%
- 2014 Port of Antwerp throughput is forecast to grow by 4.7%
- 2013 Port of Antwerp container throughput is forecast to grow by 2.0%
- 2014 Road freight is forecast to grow by 0.5%
- 2014 Inland waterway freight is forecast to grow by 1.8%
- 2014 Total real trade growth is forecast at 4.0%.

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Key Industry Trends

Antwerp Registers 3.0% Rise in Freight Volume- The Belgian port of Antwerp registered a 3.0% year-onyear (y-o-y) rise in freight volume to 143.01mn tonnes in the first nine months of 2013. Liquid bulk increased most, while container volumes dropped by 1.7% to 6,404,791 TEUs.

P3 Network Selects Antwerp as European Platform- The P3 Network (Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM), has selected the port of Antwerp as its European platform. The move will strengthen the port's competitive position in the region.

DB Schenker Logistics Expands Operations in Belgium- DB Schenker Logistics has opened a new logistics centre located in Zwevegem, Belgium. The EUR13mn facility offers the customers in the Belgian provinces of Hainault and West and East Flanders faster connectivity to all destinations in Europe.

Risks to Outlook

Despite enjoying a relatively strong recovery following the global financial crisis, the Belgian economy is now struggling against headwinds from the eurozone. A particular concern is the national debt which, at close to 100% of GDP, leaves Belgium vulnerable to deterioration in risk sentiment and slowdown in economic growth.

Although the Belgian economy slowed down after a prompt recovery achieved in 2010-2011, it is likely to continue outperforming the eurozone as a whole, and we forecast a real GDP growth of 0.3% in 2013 and 1.2% in 2014. There are significant downside risks to our medium-term economic growth forecasts, particularly stemming from the impact of fiscal consolidation and the eurozone sovereign debt crisis.

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