Port of Antwerp-Bruges convened Belgian and Indian policymakers and business leaders in Mumbai to discuss the opportunities created by the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, concluded in early 2026.
This forms part of the port’s strategy to develop trade relations with India and consolidate its position as a key European gateway for growing cargo flows between the two regions.
India is already a significant trade partner for Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
In 2025, the port handled 6.3 million tonnes of goods originating from or destined for India, making it the third-largest trade partner for breakbulk and seventh-largest for containers.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges has maintained a permanent presence in Mumbai since 2006 and is this year marking 20 years of operations there.
The India-EU Free Trade Agreement is expected to reduce or abolish import duties across a wide range of goods and simplify customs procedures to facilitate frictionless trade.
The European Commission estimates that EU goods exports to India, worth nearly EUR 49 billion in 2024, could double by 2032.
The sectors positioned to benefit, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, textiles and food, closely align with Port of Antwerp-Bruges’s cargo flows and industrial clusters.
Beyond cargo handling, Port of Antwerp-Bruges engages with India through its subsidiaries Port of Antwerp-Bruges International and APEC, sharing expertise in port management, digitalisation, nautical operations and sustainability, while exploring investment opportunities in India’s port and maritime sector.
A multi-sector trade mission to India involving companies from the port community is planned for February 2027.
William Demoor, Chief Customer Relations Officer, highlighted the port’s logistics and industrial clusters, European hinterland connectivity and two decades of Indian presence as establishing the conditions to serve as the natural gateway to Europe for Indian companies and the link to one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for European businesses.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever described the India-EU agreement as giving concrete substance to Belgium’s commitment to reliable partners and supply chain diversification, with Port of Antwerp-Bruges serving as a crucial logistics bridge between India and Europe.
