Europe’s industry at a turning point
On 11 February, Advario joined more than 600 industry leaders in Antwerp for the European Industry Summit and the Antwerp Call to Action, together with policymakers including President Ursula von der Leyen. The central question was clear: how can Europe safeguard its industrial base while continuing to decarbonize?
Within the chemical and industrial sector, there was strong alignment that action is needed now on three priorities:
• Bring energy and carbon costs down
• Secure fair global trade and access to finance
• Strengthen demand for products made in Europe
The urgency is real. Since early 2024, more than 100 industrial sites have closed, and significant chemical capacity has been lost. Production has increasingly shifted outside Europe, often to regions with higher carbon intensity. That does not reduce global emissions. It shifts them elsewhere.
For Advario, this discussion is directly relevant. Our terminals in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and elsewhere in Europe support essential chemical, gas, and emerging low carbon industries. A strong and competitive European industry is critical not only for economic performance, but also for effective emissions reduction.
As partners for progress, we believe industry and policymakers need to move forward together. Creating the right conditions for investment and innovation is essential if Europe wants to remain a place where industry can compete, produce, and decarbonize at the same time.
