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  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 2000 to 2005. The three variables concerned in the main developments are value added (VA), employment and investment. This study also highlights the port sector’s indirect effects in terms of VA and employment. The social balance sheet is summarised in two sections: one covering the Flemish maritime ports and the other the Liège port complex. The analysis of the financial results is based on the study of the return on equity, liquidity and solvency ratios, and a bankruptcy prediction model.