The Port of Brussels recorded a clear decline in its inland shipping traffic in 2025. In a difficult economic, geopolitical and operational context, total waterway traffic fell to 5.41 million tonnes, a decrease of 13.6% compared to 2024.
Both our own traffic and transit traffic were hit. Own traffic – goods loaded and unloaded in Brussels – fell by 11.1%. Transit traffic suffered even more and fell by 21.6%. This puts an end to the relatively stable volumes recorded since the recovery after 2021.
De Haven mainly points to a combination of external factors. The persistent slowdown in the construction and renovation sector, which is responsible for around 60% of Brussels inland shipping traffic, weighed heavily on volumes. In the second half of the year the situation was further exacerbated by the closure of several large construction sites. In addition, transit traffic was significantly affected by infrastructure problems on the Antwerp-Brussels-Charleroi axis. Due to, among other things, the collapse of a bridge in Houdeng and numerous maintenance works, shipping was interrupted for a total of 232 days in 2025.
Containers are increasing slightly
At product level, almost all goods categories recorded a decline. Only containers experienced a slight increase, while imports of metal products also increased. Building materials, the most important category within our own traffic, fell by 12%, mainly due to a sharp decline in the removal of soil and rubble. Oil products returned to levels similar to 2023, in line with structural changes in energy and consumption patterns.
Despite the lower volumes, the environmental impact remained significant: water transport prevented an estimated 505,000 truck journeys in the Brussels Region in 2025. The cruise segment also continues to grow, with more than 33,500 international passengers and already 169 reservations for 2026.
