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Why should businesses come to Flanders for their logistics operations? Cushman & Wakefield provide a clear answer: Flanders is the European number one location for logistics operations and will hold this position for the years to come.
A diverse array of European Distribution Centers, port operators, stevedoring companies, major shippers and other global logistics players have established their activities here. The reasons why companies opted for Flanders are as diverse as the companies themselves.
Some praise Flanders for its world-leading ports, some for its solid know-how, and others for the vision it has developed on the future of logistics. All of them are able to achieve sustainable, profitable growth in Flanders. Discover 10 reasons why Flanders is in pole position in logistics.
10 reasons why Flanders is in pole position
1. Central location in Europe
2. World leading seaports
3. Efficient airports
4. High density transport network
5. Optimal use of inland multimodal platforms
6. Sustainable growth for strategic industries
7. Pioneer in innovation
8. Solid know-how and expertise
9. Strong support for the industry
10. Flanders Investment & Trade: support at the start and the expansion of your operations
1. Central location in Europe
Centrally located in Europe, Flanders is close to all the major European industrial and consumer markets. This makes it an ideal platform for distribution to the surrounding countries, further away in Europe and to the rest of the world. The speed and the cost at which companies can do this, is of crucial importance. That is why Flanders is the ideal location for numerous reputable logistics providers and companies active in the European market and beyond.
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Did you know that…
… the Japanese concern, NYK Logistics has more than 85,000 m2 of warehousing capacity in Flanders, divided over four locations? The company endeavors to deliver the goods from the producer to the clients with as few stopovers as possible.
… over 60% of European purchasing power is situated within a tight radius of 500 kilometers around Flanders? This means Flanders is relatively close to large industrial and consumer centers, such as the region around Paris, the Ruhr area and the Benelux.
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2. World leading seaports
Down the centuries, Flanders has always been a trading region. Its seaports on the southern edge of the North Sea have played a key role in this development. With the seaports of Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Ghent and Ostend, the region has the ideal ocean-going gateways for the fast handling of all kinds of goods from all over the world. The Flemish ports have built up an enviable reputation with shippers, port operators and logistics players worldwide.
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Did you know that…
… the Port of Antwerp area is the largest petrochemical center in Europe? And with over 300 different chemicals, Antwerp is the most diverse petrochemical cluster in the world.
… Bridgestone operates its largest European distribution center in the Port of Zeebrugge? With a surface area of 87,500 m2 and a storage capacity of 1.3 million tires it is also one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
… Zeebrugge is the largest port in the world for the shipment of new cars? Annually over 2.2 million cars pass through the port. Toyota alone has a logistic site of 420,000 m2 in the port area that can handle 430,000 vehicles a year.
… at the Port of Ghent, half a million tonnes of concentrated fruit juice is transshipped per year. This makes it the largest citrus fruit juice port in Europe and the second largest worldwide.
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3. Efficient airports
Flanders can boast an excellent airport infrastructure. With Brussels Airport in the heart of Europe, it houses an international cargo airport that is consistently in the top of the charts. Ostend-Bruges International Airport lies close to the modern seaports of Zeebrugge and Ostend. Both of these seaports boast a modern infrastructure that allows goods to be distributed fast and efficiently to anywhere in the world.
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Did you know that…
… in 2007, Brussels Airport handled close on 800,000 tonnes of goods. Over 170 cargo handling companies are based at the airport, making it one of Europe's major cargo airports.
… Ostend-Bruges airport is located only 25 kilometers from the seaport of Zeebrugge and just around the corner of the seaport of Ostend? This airport provides unique opportunities for both air-sea and sea-air transport.
… a European survey by real estate consultant King Sturge has revealed that rental prices in the vicinity of airports in Flanders are among the lowest in Europe?
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4. High density transport network
The performance of the Flemish transport network is practically unequaled in Europe. Flanders' road, rail and inland waterway networks are among the densest in Europe. Its modern infrastructure allows fast connections with the European hinterland.
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Did you know that…
… Flanders has the world's second densest rail network? It comprises 1,700 kilometers of railroad tracks on a surface of 13,700 km2.
… Flanders has the world's most dense road network? Its highways are directly linked to those of France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, as well as those of Great Britain via the ferry or the Channel Tunnel.
… Flanders has one of the densest river and canal networks in the whole world? In addition, 80 % of all Flemish companies are located less than 10 kilometers from a navigable waterway.
… Kuehne+Nagel operates the group's largest warehouse in Europe and second largest globally in the town of Geel? The existing infrastructure from the gateways to the hinterland is one of the main advantages of this location.
… the Flemish leading logistics player, Katoen Natie, is developing a 280ha site into a major logistics center with fast access to waterways, railways and roads? When it is finished, it will provide 1.4 million m2 of distribution centers.
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5. Optimal use of inland multimodal platforms
The majority of the shippers and logistics service providers willing to invest in a European distribution activity in Flanders look for a prime location. They generally find it near an international gateway such as a port or an airport. There are, however, also companies that opt for a location in the Flemish hinterland close to an inland multimodal terminal. To streamline the site selection process, the Flemish Institute for Logistics (VIL) has developed the Extended Gateway® concept. This unique concept will help companies to find a location in Flanders where their total logistics costs are the lowest. Inland multimodal platforms such as the Port of Genk and Water Container Terminal (WTC) at Laakdal play a crucial role in this concept
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Did you know that…
… Nike's EMEA distribution center in Flanders is a shining example of a shipper operating successfully within the Extended Gateway® concept? Almost ninety percent of Nike's goods arrive on barges. It is located very close to a trimodal terminal and next to the E313 highway and a railway even used for distribution to European customers.
… Water Container Terminal (WCT) on the Albert Canal at Laakdal extends over 10ha and has a storage capacity of 8,000 containers? Most companies in the surrounding region such as Nike, IKEA, Borealis, BP Chemical, Toyota, Hyundai, Kaneka and Johnson & Johnson are loyal customers of WCT.
… the modern multimodal logistics platform Port of Genk is located near the intersection of the borders of Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany? It is the ideal inland port for distributing products efficiently to the European hinterland.
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6. Sustainable growth for strategic industries
Logistics delivers crucial added value for the economy of Flanders. Thanks to superior logistic support, the region's strategic industries - automotive, chemicals, life sciences and food - were able to develop into leading industries in the global market. This support goes much further than Flanders and reaches to the boundaries of Europe and far beyond.
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Did you know that…
… the BASF group's second largest production platform is located in the Port of Antwerp? The Flemish site encompasses over 50 production facilities with integrated production lines on an area of around 600 hectares.
… Sentipharm AG, a Schering-Plough company, has been distributing products around the world from its base in Flanders for 40 years? Its international distribution center in Boortmeerbeek handles the logistics - transportation, warehousing and distribution - of the finished products for around 110 different countries on all continents.
… the Japanese car maker Mazda has located its European car parts distribution center in Flanders? Mazda Motor Logistics Europe has become a European operational hub with a warehouse area of approximately 51,000 m2.
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7. Pioneer in innovation
Flanders is a true pioneer when it comes to new trends in logistics. A lot of effort is being focused on value-added concepts and technologies, such as mass customization, reverse logistics and intelligent supply chains. Flanders is also the region where innovative logistic partnerships offer companies a competitive advantage. It is also home to numerous innovative firms that have developed specific solutions, e.g. in telematics.
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Did you know that…
… the Flemish family firm Westerlund has the world's largest terminal and logistics hub for forest products in Flanders? The company innovates continuously to maintain a level of efficiency. This applies to its ICT solutions as well as to the infrastructure of its port terminals.
… Tailormade Logistics, a Ghent-based logistics service provider is one of the fastest growing logistics service providers in Flanders? The key to its success lies in state-of-the-art technology-assisted logistics processes.
… the Flemish firm, Hessenatie Logistics, was among the first to customize an ERP-platform using state-of-the-art technology? The system goes well beyond the traditional computerized system for warehousing and transport management.
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8. Solid know-how and expertise
Running a European Distribution Center (EDC) is becoming increasingly complex. Added-value activities like (re)packaging, grouping of goods in kits and assembly are growing in importance. Hi-tech sorting and packaging equipment and actual production and repair lines are now located at logistic centers. The know-how to set up and manage advanced EDC operations and processes demands a solid expertise on the successful combination of logistic and production processes. Flanders can offer that expertise and has a workforce at its command with a first-class reputation worldwide in several fields.
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Did you know that…
… Flanders is home to more than 400 European Distribution Centers (EDCs)? With an average of 3 EDCs for every 100 km2, Flanders is the European leader.
… the Nike EMEA Logistics Center in the Flemish town of Laakdal covers 200,000 m2 and handles close to 5 billion dollars in goods? This makes it the largest distribution center in Europe and the largest in the world for the American group.
… DHL Exel Supply Chain operates approximately 20 EDCs in Flanders? These handle a wide range of products, including fast moving consumer goods, healthcare products, technology products and food and fashion products.
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9. Strong support for the industry
Flanders provides a tailor-made policy for all players in the logistics industry. This ranges from creating a beneficial tax environment for EDCs located here to companies that wish to expand to brownfield developments and the clearing of greenfields for logistics operations. Furthermore, Flanders offers the lowest rentals in Europe. Nowhere in Europe can business find better value for money in logistic real estate.
Several government initiatives have been taken to support the logistics industry. The Flanders Institute for Logistics (VIL) is the driving force behind the innovative strength of the logistics industry in Flanders. Other initiatives, such as Flanders Logistics and the Flemish Logistics Platform, have established a stimulating interplay between government, the centers of knowledge and the business community. The Flemish government has made it resoundingly clear that the logistics industry is getting all the attention it deserves.
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Did you know that…
… fDi magazine, the foreign direct investment magazine of The Financial Times Group, voted Flanders the number 2 region in Europe for foreign direct investment and the number 2 in the overall ranking of 'Top European Regions of the Future 2008/2009'?
… according to real estate broker Eurinpro, rentals in Flanders are among the lowest in Europe? In 2006, the average rental for logistic space (at prime sites) in Belgium was €47 per m2 per year.
… Cushman & Wakefield's European Distribution Report 2006 puts Flanders in first place as logistics location? The ranking was based on factors such as the cost of warehousing, land and employment, the quality of transport systems and the accessibility of the region. According to the study, Flanders will remain in the top spot until at least 2019.
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10. Flanders Investment & Trade: support at the start and expansion of your operations
Providing advice and support to foreign companies wanting to start or expand operations in Flanders is one of the core responsibilities of Flanders Investment & Trade. Thanks to our experienced, multilingual staff we are able to help companies integrate into one of Europe's most prosperous economies efficiently and effectively. Flanders Investment & Trade has 95 offices worldwide: we can assist you wherever you are. And, thanks to our extensive and active network within Flanders, we can also provide you with region-specific information.
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Did you know that…
… we can identify and suggest optimal locations for your business.
… we serve as a knowledge and contact organization.
… we can provide you with useful information on subsidies and support measures.
… we clarify legal requirements.
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