BE Prefix and Three-Character Location Code
A Belgium UN/LOCODE generally follows the BE + three-character structure. The complete code should be checked against the current UNECE location list and the carrier or terminal booking system.
Seaports in Belgium: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Belgium has 18 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting gateway, short-sea and inland-connected cargo flows in northwest Europe.
Use this guide to review Belgium port-code coverage, major cargo gateways, regional logistics roles and indicative trade-lane planning data.
Belgium Port Overview
Belgium is a major northwest European maritime and logistics market. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the principal deep-sea gateway, while coastal, inland and industrial terminals connect cargo to the North Sea, the Rhine-Scheldt basin and European distribution networks. Indexed coverage and international TEU league-table positions are separate measures.
18
Belgium ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Oct 2026
266.5m
Port of Antwerp-Bruges total cargo throughput, 2025; approximately −4.3% YoY
Port of Antwerp-Bruges 2025 results
14.5m
Port of Antwerp-Bruges container throughput in TEU, 2025; approximately +8.1% YoY
Port of Antwerp-Bruges 2025 results
—
National seaport berth total, 2025; no single consolidated official public figure
Belgian port authorities · 2025 reference review
How many seaports does Belgium have?
Belgium has 18 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its October 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed-coverage figure, not a statutory count of every maritime or inland facility.
What is Belgium’s largest and busiest port?
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is Belgium’s largest and busiest maritime gateway by overall cargo importance and container activity. The supplied port-code sample includes Luanda under AOLUA, but does not include a Belgium-specific Antwerp UN/LOCODE record.
Which area handles most Belgium cargo?
The Scheldt and Antwerp-Bruges logistics region handles the core of Belgium’s deep-sea container, chemical, automotive and general-cargo flows, with connections into the Rhine-Scheldt hinterland and European inland markets.
Top Belgium Ports by Cargo Relevance
Belgium’s internationally recognised ranking is led by Antwerp-Bruges. The supplied first-party sample, however, contains records with AO-prefixed codes and Angolan place names rather than Belgium port records. Those records are shown below only as database-sample entries and must not be interpreted as Belgium ports.
Indexed sample records supplied for this page; Belgium league-table values are not assigned to non-Belgian records.
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Luanda | AOLAD | — | — | Sample record outside Belgium |
| — | Luanda | AOLUA | — | — | Sample record outside Belgium |
| — | Namibe | AOMSZ | — | — | Sample record outside Belgium |
| — | Lobito | AOLOB | — | — | Sample record outside Belgium |
| — | Cabinda | AOCAB | — | — | Sample record outside Belgium |
| — | Porto Alexandre (tombua) | AOPLE | — | — | Sample record outside Belgium |
Belgium Port Regions and Cargo Clusters
Belgium’s principal maritime cluster is centred on the Scheldt estuary and the Antwerp-Bruges gateway. Regional cargo planning should also account for inland terminals, industrial sites and short-sea connections across the North Sea range.
Scheldt and Antwerp-Bruges Gateway
This is Belgium’s dominant deep-sea and industrial logistics region, serving containers, chemicals, automotive cargo, breakbulk and project freight.
Belgium gateway records available in the supplied sample
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | Antwerp / Antwerp | Container, chemicals, automotive and general cargo |
| — | — | Bruges / West Flanders | Ro-ro, containers, energy and general cargo |
North Sea Coastal Logistics
Belgium’s coastal logistics network supports short-sea services, ro-ro flows, energy-related cargo and connections to the wider North Sea range.
No Belgium-coded coastal record is present in the supplied sample
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | Belgian North Sea coast / West Flanders | Short-sea, ro-ro and coastal distribution |
Rhine-Scheldt Hinterland
The inland-connected corridor links Belgium’s maritime gateways with France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg through barge, rail and road networks.
Hinterland role; no additional Belgium port-code sample supplied
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | Rhine-Scheldt corridor / multiple provinces | Inland distribution, barge transfer and European transit |
Belgium Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
UN/LOCODE records normally use a two-letter country prefix followed by a three-character location identifier. Belgium’s prefix is BE. The supplied sample records are AO-prefixed and therefore do not represent Belgium codes.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A city-level location and an individual terminal may have different records. Shippers should confirm the exact receiving facility, terminal cut-off and inland delivery point before booking.
How to Verify a Port Code
Verify the code through the UNECE UN/LOCODE resource and compare it with the relevant record in the Ecer Freight port directory.
Shipping from Belgium: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times vary by carrier service, port pair, routing, season, transshipment and customs conditions. The following lanes are planning references and require confirmation against a live sailing schedule.
Belgium to East Asia
Deep-sea container services connect Belgium with China, South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia through the North Europe–Asia network.
Belgium to North America
Transatlantic services support consumer goods, automotive cargo, machinery and industrial shipments to the United States and Canada.
Belgium to Mediterranean and Middle East
Short-sea and deep-sea networks connect Belgium with Mediterranean hubs, Turkey, the Gulf and adjacent markets.
Belgium to West Africa
Services to West Africa commonly carry machinery, project cargo, consumer goods, vehicles and containerised commodities, subject to carrier rotation.
Data Sources and Methodology
Port coverage, code presentation and market commentary are reviewed against first-party records and recognised public maritime sources. Throughput figures refer to the stated port or authority scope and should not be combined with Ecer Freight’s indexed-port count.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party database snapshot for Oct 2026, with 18 Belgium ports and terminals indexed for this page.
- Port of Antwerp-Bruges — official port results and annual throughput reporting, including 2025 cargo and container indicators.
- UNECE UN/LOCODE — international location-code structure and country-prefix reference.
- Statbel — Belgian official statistics relevant to transport, mobility and trade indicators.
- International Maritime Organization — maritime terminology and international shipping context.
Belgium Port FAQ
How many seaports does Belgium have?
Belgium has 18 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the October 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents indexed coverage rather than every maritime facility in Belgium.
What is the main port in Belgium?
Antwerp-Bruges is generally regarded as Belgium’s principal maritime gateway by cargo scale, container activity and industrial connectivity.
What is the UN/LOCODE prefix for Belgium?
Belgium uses the country prefix BE in UN/LOCODE. The complete location code should be verified against UNECE and the named carrier or terminal.
Which regions are important for Belgium sea freight?
The Antwerp-Bruges and Scheldt gateway is the central maritime cluster, supported by the North Sea coast and Rhine-Scheldt inland logistics corridor.
How current are the Belgium port figures?
The indexed-port count is based on the Oct 2026 Ecer Freight snapshot. The latest complete statistical reference year used where available is 2025; port authorities may revise or define figures differently.
Can Belgium sea-freight rates be checked online?
Indicative FCL and LCL options can be reviewed through the FCL sea-freight rates and LCL sea-freight rates pages, subject to equipment, schedule, origin, destination and cargo details.
Editorial note: This Belgium guide combines the Ecer Freight port database snapshot with official port-authority, UNECE and Belgian statistical references. Indexed coverage is reviewed quarterly, while throughput and trade indicators are updated when the relevant authority publishes a new complete reporting period.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Belgium: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact