Freight traffic through ports of general interest grew by 3.4% in the first half of 2024

• Between January and June, TEUs increased by 12.4%, especially in transit (+19.6%), confirming the effect of instability in the Red Sea on Spanish ports.
• Passenger movement increased by 4.8%, compared to the same period in 2023, with 16.45 million.

23-07-2024 (State Ports Public Entity). Ports of general interest moved a total of 283,245,366 tons between January and June, which represents an increase of 3.4% compared to the same period of the previous year.

The balance for the first half of 2024 shows sustained growth in Spanish ports as a result of the persistent volatility in the Red Sea, which forces diversion on some maritime routes, supported by their optimal position in international maritime transport chains, particularly in container transit. This situation forces some ports to meet peaks in activity, challenges for which the Spanish port system is prepared thanks to its competitive advantages: The capacity of its infrastructure and the good value for money of its port services.

General cargo increased in the first six months of the year by 7.7%, compared to 2023, to almost 142 million tons, with an increase in containerized cargo, +10.6%, compared to the more moderate advance of conventional cargo, +1.8%.

The first half of the year closes with an increase in TEUs of 12.4% compared to the same period of the previous year, with 9 million tons, confirming the trend seen in the first months of the increase in TEUs in transit (+19.6%), especially in ports such as +49.9% in Barcelona, +58.9% in Bilbao, +23% in Las Palmas, or +17.9% in Valencia.

All traffic registered increases between January and June, with the exception of solid bulk which, with 41.9 million tons, represents a decrease of 11.1% compared to the same period in 2023, the effect of the collapse of coal (-53.8%) but also of steel products, cement and some food products.

Liquid bulk registered an increase of 4.5%, to 91.7 million tons, especially due to the good performance of chemical products (+107.3%), and gasoline (+17.7%), and in general oil and derived products.

Ro-ro traffic grew by 0,6% to 37.3 million tons.

The number of merchant ships through Spanish ports increased by 2% in January, totaling 78,924 units, and the gross tonnage grew by 4.1%.

Passenger traffic through Spanish ports increased by 4.8% in the first six months of the year compared to 2023, with 16.45 million movements.