Belgian ports are affected by a massive influx of electric cars waiting for direction. If electric vehicles, especially Chinese, were particularly emphasized for several months, they are not the only ones for this Quagmire.
Between the slowdown of the market, the lack of logistics and industrial strategies, Europe is facing an unprecedented traffic jam in its ports. The result is especially visible in the port area of the Antwerp brains, where the parking lot is originally planned to accommodate up to 390,000 transit vehicles overflow.
It is a headache for port authorities, as their officials explained to Belgian media La Libre 18 February 2025. First, Chinese cars were emphasized as the only responsible for ports. In the end, the problem seems to be much wider and is not limited to electric cars.
The accumulation of electric cars, but not only Chinese brands
The ports of zeebrugs and Antwerp have become symbols of an unexpected phenomenon: thousands of electric cars, aligned in saturated parking lots, wait for their sellers or customers to be delivered to their sellers or customers.
If Chinese imports are part of the problem are not the only ones. CEO of the merged port of the Antwerp Sea Jacques Vandermeiren confirms that Chinese models ” represent only the imported minority of the vehicle ». The disadvantage is that there are often longer than vehicles from other brands. Chinese manufacturers prefer to pay the cost of parking of the port, not to other additional logistics costs unless the vehicle is sold.
Tesla, Volkswagen, BMW and many other brands imported from the United States, Korea or Japan are also one of the vehicles that come, more or less accurate, parking. This overload reveals a more complicated reality than a simple “invasion” of Chinese models that will not find the recipient.
The unforeseen event further complicated the situation in European ports. Due to the increased risks of attacks in the Red Sea, boat owners are now bypassing Africa, extending the way and increasing fuel costs. For compensation of these additional costs, the cylindrical costs will be launched by many more vehicles than before. Where they transported between 1,000 and 2,000 units, some of them now appear with up to 10,000 vehicles on board, which must be deposited on the harbor before their final direction.
Patina market, outdated logistics
The demand for electric cars did not have the expected growth in Europe, mainly because of the uncertain economic situation and the hesitation of consumers in the face of the development of help and recharge infrastructure. Yet manufacturers – whether Chinese, Europeans or Americans – continue to produce a lasting pace.
In addition to this, the logistics crisis is added. Lack of drivers, trucks and storage space prevents the transfer of liquids to the final destination. Therefore, ports, which usually serve as redistribution hubs, become giant parking areas where cars remain immobilized much longer than expected, including historical brands.
Any asphalt and secure zone around the port of Antwerp brains will quickly become another parking space. The planning parking lot with an area of 30,000,000 space for mitigating port offices, at least time.
Before throwing stone into Chinese manufacturers, the European automotive industry would probably sweep a little in front of its door. Chinese brands are not the only ones who have too many sleeping vehicles in Europe. Some European manufacturers produce hopeful to get rid of their stock as quickly as possible, which is never a good thing for the automotive market.
