In 2023, the total area of land issued by MLSO under concession or lease exceeded 500 hectares for the first time. With an area of 2,576 m2, part of a plot located on Molenweg in Doel is the first new site to be given in concession since 2020.
As demand for business expansion opportunities continues to exceed supply, MLSO is continuing to look for solutions. Last year, for example, Port of Antwerp-Bruges and MLSO found a way to economically develop 272.5 hectares of vacant land on industrial sites in the port area. After the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) formed the subject of a public inquiry during the summer, the programme was approved by the Flemish Government on 20 October 2023. Thanks to measures designed to strengthen the presence of nature and the forthcoming construction of nature offsets in the close vicinity of the port area, the present companies can still develop further without any expansion of the port and while respecting the area covered by the Birds Directive.
Since 2022, MLSO has been reserving 2.5 million euros of its income to support projects that have a link to the port on the left bank of the Scheldt (Waaslandhaven), that add value to the entire region, that have a lasting impact and that, moreover, have a sustainable character.
"In 2023, MLSO paid out 2.3 million euros on five selected projects, including the new car park and second access road/emergency road for Fort Liefkenshoek, which is currently being completed and the renovation of the Scheldemolen in Doel. In fact, the renovation of the Scheldemolen in Doel will be one of the first large-scale public investments in Doel's building heritage. This is therefore one example of how we are taking specific action to ensure a future for the village of Doel."
Boudewijn Vlegels, Chairperson of MLSO
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Together with its partners, MLSO has also focused on the surrounding villages and their residents on other levels during the past year. One example of this are the many plans to improve mobility that are increasingly taking shape. For example, plans for the Western Access to the Waaslandhaven were further developed in order to maximise the separation of port and village traffic and create a contiguous recreational buffer from Doel to Verrebroek.
On 8 March of this year, the Flemish Government then approved the draft project decision for the Western Access to the Waaslandhaven and the public inquiry is currently still ongoing until 13 June.
After traffic figures in the port on the left bank of the Scheldt had shown a decline for the first time in 2022, maritime traffic decreased again by 1%. In that regard, the port on the left bank of the Scheldt still outperformed the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as a whole, which recorded a 5.4% decreased in total cargo throughput.
"In total, 107,666,480 tons of goods passed through the port on the left bank of the Scheldt last year, and that once again represents a huge volume. By the way, the lion's share of those goods was transported in containers. The share of containers within the overall cargo traffic in the port on the left bank of the Scheldt therefore increased to as much as 86%."
Boudewijn Vlegels
This equates to 92,556,277 tons of goods loaded or unloaded via containers, or 8,087,958 TEU (twenty foot equivalent units), which represents an increase of 3% compared to 2022.
These figures underline once again the importance of the port on the left bank of the Scheldt as an economic driving force for the wider Waasland region.
Another important indicator at the port are the employment figures. Despite all the ominous reports in the media and the not entirely positive maritime traffic figures, employment figures in the port on the left bank of the Scheldt increased for the thirteenth year in a row. With 22,453 FTEs (full-time equivalents) compared to 22,086 in 2022, employment increased once again by 1.7%.
"The fact that employment in the port on the left bank of the Scheldt increased again in 2023 was rather unexpected and is mainly due to a number of positive outliers. The fall in the number of agency workers, who in 2022 still were the primary factor responsible for the increase in employment, is a sign of changing economic conditions. This year, we must also keep a close eye on employment in the chemical sector, especially due to the fact that, in recent months, there have been a few announcements in the media concerning redundancies at companies relating specifically to the port on the left bank of the Scheldt."
Boudewijn Vlegels.
MLSO again realised positive after-tax earnings of 16.3 million euros in 2023. That figure is exceptionally high and is due to a one-off revenue item. EUR 2,765,869 of the company's earnings will be distributed to shareholders in the form of a dividend. As in previous years, the dividend was adjusted in line with the consumer price index. The dividend for the 2023 financial year therefore provides the same economic benefit to shareholders as the dividend for the 2022 financial year.
"MLSO has therefore set aside a significant amount in excess of 14 million euros out of prudence. On the one hand, there is greater uncertainty about future revenues from concessions and dividends received and on the other hand, costs are on the increase even before new concessions can be issued."
Peter Van de Putte, General Manager of MLSO
Examples of this are the rising costs of nature offsets and the uncertain but likely hefty price tag for soil remediation, in view of the more stringent regulations. Among other things, the future realisation of the 3Dokken and Bieshoek logistics zones within the complex project ECA will become very expensive for MLSO.
You can read the full annual report here.
