Ports of General Interest recorded record figures for general cargo and TEUs in 2025
• Spain’s state-owned ports handled 556.5 million tonnes last year, representing a slight 0.2% decrease compared to 2024.
• General cargo reached an all-time annual record, with 278.8 million tonnes.
• Containers (TEUs) also posted historic figures, rising 2.7% year on year, driven by a 7.8% increase in import–export TEUs.
• Passenger traffic through Spanish ports exceeded 42.5 million movements, 4% more than in 2024.
27-01-2026 (Puertos del Estado). Ports of General Interest handled 556,584,674 tonnes in 2025, representing a slight 0.2% decline compared to 2024 (557.7 million tonnes), according to provisional year-end data.
While 2024 was marked by a recovery in traffic volumes (+2.7%) following the 3% drop recorded in 2023 — largely due to the temporary increase in movements at some Spanish ports as a result of instability in the Red Sea — 2025 closed with virtually no variation compared to 2024, in a year characterised by global geopolitical and economic instability.
General cargo increased slightly (+0.1%) to 278.8 million tonnes, with a 3.6% rise in conventional cargo, reaching 88.6 million tonnes, and a decline in containerised cargo of 1.4%, to 190 million tonnes.
Although total traffic did not exceed the record reached in 2019 (564.6 million tonnes), general cargo handled by Spanish ports did surpass all previous figures, reaching 278.8 million tonnes, slightly above the previous record set in 2024.
TEUs also reached historic levels, increasing by 2.7% to 18.6 million units (the previous peak being 18.1 million in 2024), driven by the rise in import–export TEUs (+7.8%), despite a moderate decline in transhipment TEUs (-0.6%).
Liquid bulk traffic regained momentum in the final three months of the year, closing 2025 with a 0.9% increase and 180.4 million tonnes. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) gained importance as a transition fuel and, together with chemical products, offset the decline in crude oil traffic.
Solid bulk traffic recorded a 3.4% decrease, totalling 81.8 million tonnes, mainly due to the drop in coal (-10.4%), in line with national and European energy policies, as well as the fall in cereals (-18.4%), resulting from reduced imports following an excellent domestic harvest after years of drought.
Ro-ro traffic grew by 2.8%, reaching 74.7 million tonnes compared to the previous year.
The number of merchant vessels calling at Spanish ports fell by 2.2%, totalling 162,865 vessels, while gross tonnage increased by 0.8%.
Passenger traffic rose by 4% at the close of 2025 compared to 2024, surpassing 42.5 million movements. This figure — particularly regular passenger traffic (28.4 million) — highlights the crucial role played by ports and maritime transport in ensuring territorial cohesion for the islands and Spain’s autonomous cities.