Upper Austria discovers Antwerp: Key to the export victory!

Upper Austria discovers Antwerp: Key to the export victory!

Antwerpen, Belgien - On June 11, 2023, a top -class delegation from Upper Austria traveled to Belgium under the leadership of Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP). The main goal of this trip was to explore the connections between the Upper Austrian industry and the port of Antwerp. The port is considered an important export point for numerous Upper Austrian companies, including sizes such as Voestalpine, Plasser & Theurer and Engel. Felbermayr also launched a joint venture, which further strengthens economic relationships.

The Antwerp Euroterminal (AET) plays a central role in this context and is the largest multifunctional terminal system in Europe. The AET processes over 750,000 vehicles, 200,000 containers and 230,000 tons of general cargo annually. In recent years, the port has further expanded its importance as a connecting point between the European traffic routes and the world's oceans. "The port of Antwerp is of crucial importance for the export and visibility of the Upper Austrian economy on the world markets," emphasizes Stelzer.

green hydrogen and energy safety

A particularly hot topic during the trip was the future development in the field of green hydrogen. Antwerp could play a key role here. Europe's ports, including Antwerp, are required to adapt to the EU strategy for hydrogen economy. The port already has experience in dealing with chemicals and industrial nuclear and thus takes on an important position in the transformation of the energy system. As part of the hydrogen initiatives, ships with hydrogen drive have recently been driving in Antwerp.

Another concern of the governor is the dependency of Europe in microelectronics. While the EU focuses on research and development in the microchip infrastructure with the chips act decided in 2023, Stelzer signals a clear direction. The IMEC research center in Leuven, which specializes in micro and nanoelectronics, could be important here as a partner. The EV Group from St. Florian am Inn, which specializes in chips production technologies, is one of the cooperation partners of IMEC. "Europe must not close the eyes in this sector and has to reflect on your own strengths," says Stelzer.

The location of the seaports

The situation in Europe's seaports was not easy in 2023 due to geopolitical tensions and crises. The port of Antwerpen-Zebügge, an important hub for Germany, recorded a decline in total envelope by 5.5 % to a total of 271 million tons. This went hand in hand with a 7.2%decline in container handling, whereby this not only affects Antwerp, but also other large ports such as Hamburg and Rotterdam. Future forecasts show that a rapid recovery of the global economy is currently not in sight.

The challenges are clear: ports must adapt to the new circumstances and the EU strategy. At the same time, however, the strategic importance of ports for energy security in Europe is becoming increasingly clearer, especially after Russia's attack on Ukraine in February 2022.

Overall, it can be seen that the trip of the Upper Austrian delegation to Belgium was not only an opportunity to strengthen trade relationships, but also a window into the future of industrial cooperation in Europe. The challenges are great, but with a clear focus on innovations and partnerships, they can be mastered.