The link between economic activity and (freight) transport is a classic issue in regional science. A subtopic is the impact of economic activity on the demand for maritime transport through ports. Understanding this relationship contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics of port throughput, which is important for infrastructure planning and other strategic decisions. This paper focuses on the port of Antwerp (Belgium) and explores the link between port throughput and GDP. An exploratory analysis reveals that not only the GDP of Belgium matters, but also that of neighbouring countries. Furthermore, different results are obtained for different commodity groups, and the most appropriate time-lag is not the same for each country. On the basis of these findings, we formulate some recommendations for port throughput models
