Economic importance of the Flemish maritime ports: Report 2002

At the port of Ghent, the major changes recorded in 2002 for the direct employment in the main sectors were asfollows:• The metal-working industry lost 5.5 p.c. of jobs to return to a level of 7,163 FTE. Sidmar in particular closeddown some R & D activities and shed numerous jobs (according to the calculations, 480 FTE);• Employment in the car manufacturing declined by 3.3 p.c. to 6,624 FTE. Production at Volvo Cars Gent didnot increase in 2002 and, except for this company which showed good results, the sector was in rather poorshape, which explains an almost general decrease in employment;• Employment in the chemicals also declined, and it lost 8.9 p.c. of its workforce, which amounts to 1,903 FTE.The drop in activity referred to in point 4.2.2 was the main cause of this;• Other services (including wholesale trade) were one of the only sectors where employment increased in 2002(+ 2.7 p.c.). Employment for the sector totalled 4,446 FTE. At BP Belgium, the workforce increased by45.5 p.c. to reach 182 FTE;• After a good year in 2001 in terms of employment, the other industries lost 8.1 p.c. of their workforce to2,670 FTE.Employment Top 10 at the port of Ghent in 2002Sidmar, Volvo Cars and Volvo Europa Truck held their positions in the 2001 list. They were joined by Electrabel, acompany established in more than one location, and SNCB, which is included in the other services sector.TABLE 19 EMPLOYMENT TOP 10 AT THE PORT OF GHENT IN 2002(FTE)Ranking Company name Sector Employment1 SIDMAR Metal-working industry 5,7922 VOLVO CARS Car manufacturing 3,8313 VOLVO EUROPA TRUCK Car manufacturing 2,4734 ELECTRABEL Energy 7405 GE POWER CONTROLS BELGIUM Electronics 6836 HONDA EUROPE Car manufacturing 6547 STORA ENSO LANGERBRUGGE Other industries 4468 SNCB – NMBS Other services 4199 U.C.B. Chemicals 35010 DENYS Other industries 336Total 15,724Source: NBB.38 NBB WORKING PAPER No.56 - JUNE 2004