The income of the North Sea ports in the Low Countries will depend mainly on the state of the German economy this year, the economic bureau of ING bank has said.

In the bank's analysis, the Dutch ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam will see total transhipments increase by 0.5 and 1.5 percent respectively. Germany is Holland and Belgium's 'hinterland' and the destination of most of the cargo passing through the countries' ports. Germany's economy is expected to be strong enough to avoid falling into a recession.

Two of Belgium's three harbours are expected to grow in 2012; Antwerp and Zeebrugge should see a 1.5 and 1 percent increase. But ING expects Ghent's activity to shrink by 3 percent.

The sectors most affected by the economic downturn are ores and scrap metal, which are traded through industrial harbours like Ghent, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Compensation is found in the more lucrative transhipment of mineral oils, containers and coal.

Looking back at 2011, most ports have done reasonably well, despite the worrying state of the economy. Antwerp grew by 5 percent, seeing 187 million tonnes pass its quays. Europe's biggest port, Rotterdam, showed a modest growth of 0.8 percent, which nevertheless established a new record of 433 million tonnes of transhipments.

(rk/ae)