Key points:
- Most Port of Antwerp-Bruges tariffs will rise by 3.97% from 1 January 2027.
- The increase is based on the Belgian consumer price index for August 2026.
- Reefer containers at the border inspection post on the left bank will pay €9 per day.
- The maximum gross tonnage charged for container ships rises from 175,000 to 200,000 GT.
- Ships calling at both Antwerp and Zeebrugge will get a 20% discount on tonnage dues instead of 10%.
3.97% for most tariffs
According to the port authority, its board of directors decided to continue applying the consumer price index to its tariffs. The 3.97% increase applies, among others, to:
- tariff regulations for sea-going vessels in Antwerp and Zeebrugge,
- tariff regulations for inland navigation in Antwerp,
- most concession fees,
- commercial event and film tariffs.
Tug rates will rise by 3.57% in Antwerp and 2.65% in Zeebrugge.
New fees for reefer containers
For road hauliers and forwarders handling temperature-controlled cargo, the most important change concerns the border inspection post on the left bank in Antwerp. From 1 January 2027, the port will introduce:
- a fee of €9 per reefer container per calendar day for using the reefer facilities,
- a fee for interventions outside working hours of €1,000 for up to three hours, plus €250 for each additional hour started.
Containers and ro-ro
The maximum gross tonnage charged for container ships will increase from 175,000 GT to 200,000 GT. This means that the largest container ships will pay more.
For car carriers, quay dues for vehicles in Antwerp will be aligned with Zeebrugge at €0.1830 per tonne. Liner car carriers will pay €0.1307 per GT and non-liner ships €0.2883 per GT. In Zeebrugge, the permitted stay period for all ships will be extended from 14 to 20 days, as in Antwerp.
Discounts for greener and double calls
The port is also changing its discounts. Ships calling at both Antwerp and Zeebrugge will get a 20% discount on tonnage dues, up from 10%. The discount for cleaner ships under the Environmental Ship Index will be harmonised across both ports.
Ships calling only for bunkering, repairs, dry dock or crew changes will get a 50% discount, and a transit tariff of €0.4941 per GT will be introduced.
Ship waste and concessions
In Antwerp, ships will pay a fixed ship waste fee of €400 plus a variable fee based on gross tonnage, capped at €1,750. Battery energy storage systems on concession land will get a separate rate of €25.99 per square metre per year.
For cruise ships, a new greening contribution will apply from 1 January 2028.
What it means for the supply chain
Port dues are paid by shipping lines, but higher costs often find their way into freight rates and terminal charges. For hauliers and forwarders, the new reefer fee at the border inspection post is a direct cost that may be passed on to shippers of food and other perishable goods.
Last year, the port raised its tariffs for 2026 in a similar way. Trans.INFO reported on the previous tariff changes at the time.
