Antwerp XL, the world’s only event dedicated exclusively to maritime breakbulk, returns to the Antwerp Expo on 21st-23rd April 2020 with an expanded show floor filled with 150 major players from around the globe and operating across the breakbulk supply chain.
While the majority of 2019’s exhibitors will be returning, plenty of ports, freight forwarders, ocean carriers and shipping agents will be exhibiting their services at Antwerp XL for the first time. These include two of Europe’s leading port complexes, the Port of Dover and HAROPA. The former handles 300,000 tonnes of project cargo on an annual basis, facilitated by reefer ships, geared and RoRo vessels. HAROPA handles the largest bulk carriers in the world, serving the construction and building materials industries. The port’s infrastructure is adapted to enable it to receive ships that measure over 20,000 TEUs.
The Egyptian Maritime Consultant Office (EMCO) is another new exhibitor. The agency covers all major Egyptian ports, handling all types of vessels, such as timber, general cargo, heavy lift and offshore petroleum service vessels. The organisation specialises in freight forwarding, project cargo and sea freights.
Antwerp XL will also host Belgium’s leading forwarders, including Aprojects and Challenge International Belgium, both of whom exhibited at the debut show.
The event is expanding its international reach. New exhibitor, Finland-based Danir 19, for instance, will showcase its expertise in shipping and chartering, RoRo, heavy lift vessels, barges, floating cranes, sea-river solutions and port operations. Also exhibiting will be M-STAR PROJECTS powered by Herfurth Logistics, the forwarder that operates all over the world, including in France and Turkey. The organisation specialises in the handling and shipping of part loads with exceptional dimensions and weights.
Visitors to Antwerp XL’s exhibition will be able to connect with the best-known ocean carriers from North America, such as Höegh Autoliners and Canada’s Blue Water Shipping. The latter specialises in providing transport and logistics solutions to oil and gas and renewable energy projects. Its services range from small courier shipments to transporting complete oil rigs from one continent to another. It also presents short and deep-sea solutions, allowing the transportation of turbines, foundations, cables and other wind components. Fednav, Canada’s largest ocean-going bulk shipping company, also returns to Antwerp XL in 2020. The leading international user of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System will be promoting its modern fleet of close to 100 bulk carriers.
Other shipping agents booked to attend include Boeckmans België and Belgo-Iberian Maritime. The former is involved in linear services, parcel services, full charters and project cargoes. Visitors to Belgo-Iberian Maritime’s stand will learn how it specialises in transporting steel loaded in Antwerp to the US East Coast, the US Gulf and Mexico. The organisation works in close co-operation with local stevedores, adjusting to the ever-increasing needs of a competitive steel market.
Mark Rimmer, Antwerp XL Division Director, commented: “We were thrilled with the support our debut show had in 2019. To see the vast majority of exhibitors not only returning but being joined by even more of the world’s ports, freight forwarders, ocean carriers and shipping agents, shows that the event has quickly become an important date in the breakbulk calendar.”
