Freight traffic through ports of general interest grew by 3.5% up to May

Between January and May, TEUs increased by 12%, especially in transit (up 19%), registering the most significant advance so far this year.

Passenger movement increased by 4.6%, compared to the same period in 2023, with 12.7 million.

21-06-2024 (Puertos del Estado Public Entity). Ports of general interest moved a total of 236,330,520 tonnes between January and May, which represents an increase of 3.5% compared to the same period of the previous year.

The violent situation in the Red Sea, which is forcing the diversion of traditional maritime routes, is being felt for another month in the increase in goods through Spanish ports, especially those transported in containers and in transit. These peaks in activity, after a year of setbacks in 2023, are being managed by ports which are prepared both in terms of infrastructure and services.

In May general cargo maintained the upturn recorded in April, 8% compared to 2023, to 117.8 million tonnes, above all in containers, up 10.2%, but also gaining strength in conventional cargo, up 3.3%.

TEUs increased by 12% up to May compared to the same period of the previous year, with 7.51 million tonnes, highlighting a new push for an increase in TEUs in transit (up 19%), the largest increase recorded so far this year, as a result of figures from ports such as Barcelona, up 47.3%, Bilbao, up 39.4%, or Las Palmas, up 26.6%.

All traffic registered increases in the first five months of the year, with the exception of solid bulk, comprising 35 million tonnes, representing a decrease of 9.4% compared to the same period in 2023, a result of the collapse of coal ( down 53.8%) as well as steel products.

Liquid bulk registered an increase of 3.6%, exceeding 77 million tonnes, especially due to the good performance of chemical products (up 98.1%).

Ro-ro traffic grew by 1.9% to 31.13 million tonnes.

The number of merchant ships passing through Spanish ports increased by 3.1% from January to May, totaling 63,992 units, and the gross tonnage grew by 4.5%.

Passenger traffic through Spanish ports increased by 4.6% until May, with 12.73 million movements in the first five months of the year compared to the same period of the previous year.

Between January and May, the movement of cruise passengers increased by 6.6% compared to 2023, an increase of 4.18 million.