Importance economique des ports belges: Ports maritimes flamands, complexe portuaire liégeois et port de Bruxelles. Rapport 2007. = Economic importance of the Belgian ports: Flemish maritime ports, Liège port complex and the port of Brussels. Report 2007. NBB Working Paper 172, July 2009

Abstract

The National Bank of Belgium publishes an annual update of the study of the economic importance of the Flemish maritime ports - Antwerp, Ghent, Ostend and Zeebrugge - the port of Brussels and the Liège port complex. Each port’s contribution to the national economy is estimated on the basis of the analysis of its economic, social and financial situation over the period from 2002 to 2007. The three variables concerned in the main developments are value added, employment and investment. This study also highlights the port sector’s indirect effects in terms of value added and employment. The social balance sheet is briefly summarised in one section. The analysis of the financial results is based on the study of the return on equity, liquidity and solvency ratios, and a synthetic indicator of financial health