Antwerp experienced a major disruption in container traffic this week.
At the Deurganckdok, hydrofluoric acid leaked from a container. This is no minor dangerous goods incident, but a genuinely hazardous substance. Hydrofluoric acid can cause severe damage to skin, respiratory pathways, and eyes.
According to The Loadstar, 155 people had to be hospitalized. Those affected included staff working in the port area.
The consequence: Operations at Deurganckdok were halted on a large scale. The MSC-PSA terminal MPET and DP World Antwerp Gateway were temporarily closed. According to the operator, MPET is considered Europe's largest single container terminal.
On July 16, the first areas were able to reopen. Among others, quay 1700 at Antwerp Gateway and quay 1718 at MPET resumed operations. Other areas had to be cleaned and re-measured first. On July 17, the port reported the end of the incident.
For logistics, however, the matter is far from resolved. When two major terminals stand idle for even 24 hours, congestion builds immediately. Containers remain stationary, truck slots are lost, inland vessels and trains wait, and ships are rerouted.
According to Loadstar, some vessels diverted to Zeebrugge or Rotterdam. While this helps in the short term, it does not simplify follow-up operations. Import containers do not arrive where planned. Export containers remain stuck on trucks, trains, or barges.
Moreover: Antwerp had already experienced an unsettled half-year prior to this incident. The port reported approximately 6.8 million TEU for the first half of 2026. This represents 1.5 percent less than the previous year. Strikes, an oil spill in April, and pilot actions in June had already cost significant volume.