Belgian port traffic dips in Q1 2026; loaded goods fall 6.4% y/y

Belgian ports saw a slight decline in maritime traffic in Q1 2026, with unloaded goods down 2% y/y and loaded goods down 6.4% y/y, though loaded goods rose 4.9% q/q. The data suggests soft trade momentum in the Benelux region, but the quarterly uptick in loadings offers a mixed signal. The trend is consistent with broader European trade weakness, not a sharp deviation.