Maritime transport of goods - quarterly data

Data extracted in April 2024

Planned article update: 26 July 2024

Highlights

807 million tonnes of goods were handled in the main EU ports in the third quarter of 2023.

The gross weight of goods handled in the main EU ports decreased by 6.5% in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the same quarter of 2022.

Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in EU main ports (2017Q3-2023Q3)

This article presents the main results from quarterly statistics on maritime transport of goods in the European Union (EU), plus figures for Norway, Montenegro and Türkiye. It covers the gross weight of goods handled in the main European ports, by type of cargo, direction, reporting country and various partner regions. These data are complemented by maritime transport flows with the main extra-EU partners.

The article contains data for the third quarter of 2023. Please note that the quarterly port activity figures are provisional and subject to revisions.

Full article

Gross weight of goods handled in the main EU ports decreased by 6.5 % in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the same quarter of 2022

At 807 million tonnes, the gross weight of goods handled in the main EU ports decreased by 2.5 % in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the previous quarter and by 6.5 % versus the same quarter of 2022 (Figures 1 and 2).

After a steady recovery, following the economic crisis and a peak in activity reached in the second quarter of 2019, maritime transport then observed a downward trend until the second quarter of 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A partial recovery continued until the second quarter of 2022. After then, a new declining trend was observed, mainly attributed to the restrictions on freight transport with Russia, following its military aggression against Ukraine.

Looking at the overall annual change, EU port activity in terms of gross weight of goods handled decreased by 4.4 % compared with the previous period (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports by direction, EU, 2011Q3-2023Q3
(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhd)

Inward movement of goods represented 62.0 % of the total volume of goods handled in the main EU ports in the third quarter of 2023

In the third quarter of 2023, 62.0 % of the total volume of goods handled in the main EU ports were inward movements. This share slightly decreased by 0.2 percentage points (pp) compared with the previous quarter and by 0.4 pp compared with the previous year's third quarter.

Compared with the third quarter of 2022, inward movements of goods to the main EU ports decreased by 7.2 %, to 500 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2023. Outward movements also decreased by 5.4 % over the same period, down to 307 million tonnes.

When looking at the overall annual aggregate, inward movements of goods decreased by 3.6 % while outward movements fell by 5.7 %.

Figure 2: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports, EU, 2011Q3-2023Q3
(% change rate on same quarter of previous year and 'annual' change rate)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhd)

Dry bulk goods decreased by 14.0 % in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the same quarter of 2022

Compared with the same quarter of 2022, dry bulk goods (-14.0 %) fell substantially in the third quarter of 2023. All other types of cargo also decreased: other cargo by 7.3 %, liquid bulk goods by 5.1 %, Roll on - roll off (Ro-Ro) units by 3.0 % and large containers by 2.8 %. When looking at the overall annual change, large containers decreased by 7.2 %, dry bulk goods by 6.3 %, other cargo by 4.0 %, Ro-Ro units by 3.8 % and liquid bulk goods by 1.7 % (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports by type of cargo, EU, 2021Q3-2023Q3
(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhk)

The Netherlands, Spain and Italy each handled more than 100 million tonnes of goods in the third quarter of 2023

In the third quarter of 2023, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy were the EU Member States with the largest amount of maritime freight handled in their main ports, each handling more than 100 million tonnes of goods (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports, 2022Q3, 2023Q2 and 2023Q3
(million tonnes
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_cwh)

In the third quarter of 2023, 15 of the maritime EU Member States recorded a decrease in the tonnes of goods handled in their main ports, compared with the same quarter of 2022 (Table 1). In relative terms, the largest decrease was observed for Estonia (-35.3 %), followed by Latvia (-26.8 %), Denmark and Finland (both -13.0 %), Italy (-12.5 %), Slovenia (-12.3 %), Lithuania and the Netherlands (both -11.5 %). The candidate country Montenegro also registered a substantial fall over the same period (-22.9 %). By contrast, Malta reported the highest increase in main port activity in this period (+68.0 %), followed by Cyprus (+23.5 %), Romania (+17.4 %) and Poland (+12.4 %).

When looking at the overall annual change, 16 EU Member States, as well as the candidate countries Montenegro and Türkiye, recorded a decrease. The largest drop was recorded by Estonia (-26.6 %), followed by Lithuania (-12.4 %), Latvia (-12.3 %) and Italy (-10.1 %). The candidate country Montenegro also reported a substantial decrease of 12.0 %. By contrast, the most noticeable growth was observed in Malta (+37.5 %), followed by Poland (+26.3 %)) and Romania (+10.0 %).

Table 1: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports, in selected quarters, 2021Q3-2023Q3
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_cwh)

Russia ranked eighth among the main extra-EU partner countries in maritime freight transport in the third quarter of 2002

It is worth noting that the figures presented in this section may be influenced by variations in the level of transport reported with unknown partner regions. This level was particularly high in data reported in the last two quarters of 2022 and the first two quarters of 2023, compared with previous quarters and the third quarter of 2023.

At 502 million tonnes, short sea shipping tonnages to and from the main EU ports decreased by 5.4 % in the third quarter of 2023, compared with the same quarter in 2022. Deep sea shipping tonnages also decreased by 3.2 %, to 290 million tonnes (Figure 5). When looking at the overall annual change, short sea shipping decreased by 8.3 % while deep sea shipping fell by 1.0 %, compared with the previous period.

Figure 5: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports by type of shipping, EU, 2021Q3-2023Q3
(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhg)

Between the third quarter of 2022 and the same quarter of 2023, there was a decrease in international extra-EU transport by 5.2 %, international intra-EU transport by 3.6 % and national transport by 3.5 % (Figure 6). When looking at the overall annual change, international extra-EU transport decreased by 7.6 %, national transport by 3.8 % and international intra-EU transport by 2.7 %.

Figure 6: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports by type of transport, EU, 2021Q3-2023Q3
(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewht)

The decrease in international extra-EU transport in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the same quarter in 2022 was mainly due to the fall in seaborne transport with Europe, except for the EU (-25 million tonnes or -15.4 %) (Figure 7). Transport with Asia & Oceania and Africa also decreased, but more moderately. By contrast, seaborne transport with America increased by 2.7 %. When looking at the overall annual change, seaborne transport with America (+3.9 %) and Asia & Oceania (+0.6 %) increased, compared with the previous period. By contrast, Europe except EU fell substantially by 22.8 % and Africa by 2.0 %.

Figure 7: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports by partner regions, EU, 2021Q3-2023Q3
(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhg)

In terms of the total gross weight of goods, the United States of America (USA) remained the EU's largest maritime freight transport partner in the third quarter of 2023, for six consecutive quarters. The United Kingdom (UK) was the EU's second-largest maritime freight transport partner in the third quarter of 2023, followed by Norway, China, Türkiye, Brazil and Egypt. Transport with Russia remained at the eighth position, as in the second quarter of 2023. Canada and Nigeria completed the top 10 of extra-EU partner countries (Figure 8). EU transport with the USA and the UK together, accounted for almost one-quarter (24.4 %) of total extra-EU maritime transport.

Maritime transport between the EU and Russia recorded the largest fall in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the same quarter of 2022 (-55.1 %), followed by Türkiye (-20.5 %). By contrast, traffic with the USA, Norway and Nigeria increased substantially over the same period, by 15.6 %, 15.4 % and 10.7 %, respectively.

When looking at the overall annual change, transport between the EU and Norway (+16.1 %), Egypt (+19.1 %) and the USA (+8.0 %) substantially increased. By contrast, the highest decreases were observed for transport between the EU and Russia (-61.9 %), Türkiye (-14.6 %) and Nigeria (-10.7 %).

Figure 8: Top 10 extra-EU partner countries in maritime transport, EU, 2022Q3-2023Q3
(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhp)

A substantial share of seaborne transport with the USA is made up of inward movements of liquid bulk goods to the main EU ports, in particular crude oil and liquefied gas from ports on the USA's East coast ports (Figure 9). In the third quarter of 2023, crude oil and liquefied gas from the USA's East coast ports represented two-fifths (40 %) of total transport between the EU and the USA. Inward movements of coal from ports on the East coast of the USA were also substantial, with 8 % of the total transport between the EU and the USA. Even though the USA was the main partner of the EU in the third quarter of 2023, the main maritime trade flow concerned inward movements of large containers from China, with 17.3 million tonnes. When looking at outward movements, large containers going to China were the second main maritime trade flow (6.8 million tonnes), after the outward movements of Ro-Ro mobile units to the UK (12.0 million tonnes).

In the third quarter of 2023, the top 20 trade flows were largely dominated by inward movements of liquid bulk goods (crude oil and liquefied gas), with the following exceptions: large containers to and from China, ores from the East coast of Canada and Brazil, Ro-Ro mobile units to and from the United Kingdom, other dry bulk goods from Norway, coal from the USA's East coast, agricultural products from Brazil, as well as large containers to the East coast of the USA.

Figure 9: Top 20 extra-EU maritime trade flows, EU, 2022Q3, 2023Q2 and 2023Q3
(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewh)

In the third quarter of 2023, compared with the same quarter of 2022, the most noticeable increases were recorded for crude oil from Libya (+97.0 %), from the East coast of the USA (+64.1 %), from Norway (+52.3 %), from Nigeria (+35.2 %), from Iraq (+33.4 %), liquefied gas from the East coast of the USA (+24.0 %), oil products to the United Kingdom (+22.3 %), as well as ores from Brazil (+13.9 %). By contrast, large decreases were observed for agricultural products from Brazil (-35.2 %), coal from the East coast of the USA (-21.9 %) and large containers to the East coast of the USA (-12.9 %) (Table 2).

When looking at the overall annual change, half of the top 20 maritime trade flows grew compared with the previous period. The highest increase was registered in the inward movements of crude oil from Iraq (+47.5 %), followed by inward movements of crude oil from Norway, Libya, Egypt, the East coast of the USA (+41.1 %, +36.1 %, +27.8 % and +25.1 %, respectively) and inward movements of liquefied gas from the East coast of the USA (+20.8 %). By contrast, the highest drops were recorded for the inward movements of ores from Russian ports on the Black Sea (-17.5 %), outward movements of large containers to China (-12.9 %), outward movements of oil products to the United Kingdom (-12.9 %), inward movements of ores from Brazil (-12.0 %), as well as inward movements of Ro-Ro units from the United Kingdom (-11.1 %).

Table 2: Top 20 extra-EU maritime trade flows, EU, in selected quarters, 2021Q3-2023Q3
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewh)

Source data for tables and graphs

Maritime transport of goods - quarterly data: tables and figures

Data sources and availability

The content of this statistical article is based on data collected within the framework of the EU maritime transport statistics Directive 2009/42/EC on statistical returns in respect of carriage of goods and passengers by sea.

EU aggregates refer to the total of 22 maritime Member States. Czechia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Austria and Slovakia have no maritime ports. Norway and Iceland provide Eurostat with data as members of the European Economic Area (EEA). However, quarterly data are currently not available for Iceland. The EEA country Liechtenstein has no maritime ports. The EU candidate countries Montenegro and Türkiye provide data on a voluntary basis.

'Main ports' are ports handling more than 1 million tonnes of goods annually (however, data for some smaller ports may be included in the published results). Data are presented at the level of 'statistical ports'. A statistical port consists of one or more ports, normally controlled by a single port authority, able to record ship and cargo movements. All figures are based on a port's total (inward + outward) declarations. The results represent the 'handling' of goods in ports.

The 'short sea shipping' aggregate (in Figure 5) includes partner ports geographically situated in Europe, on the Mediterranean or on the Black Sea. 'Deep sea shipping' is the complementary geographical aggregate, covering maritime transport of goods on intercontinental routes, crossing oceans. A more extensive definition of 'short sea shipping' is available in the article Maritime transport statistics - short sea shipping of goods.

The concept of maritime transport trade (in Figure 9 and Table 2) is defined using the following three variables:

Direction: 'inwards' transport is distinguished from 'outwards' transport.
Partner geographical area (partner region): usually this corresponds to one country, with the exception of countries of such a size and/or geographical position that the location of individual ports may be quite different and may have a strong impact on the maritime route followed. For example, the ports of the United States of America are grouped in two geographical areas: East Coast (including Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes and Puerto Rico) and West Coast (Pacific).
Type of cargo: the following thirteen cargo types are used in Figure 9 and Table 2: liquefied gas, crude oil, oil products, other liquid bulk goods, ores, coal, agricultural products, other dry bulk goods, large containers, Ro-Ro mobile units, forestry products, iron/steel products and other general cargo. The first four types constitute 'liquid bulk', the subsequent four types 'dry bulk' and the last three types 'other general cargo not elsewhere specified', as presented in Figures 3 and 11 to 16.

Abbreviations

:	not available
-	not applicable
Nes	Not elsewhere specified
Ro-Ro	Roll-on/roll-off
TEU	Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit

Quarterly data are in general provisional. Revisions may be made by countries as more complete information becomes available or as a result of quality checks. More specifically, when the complete set of annual data emerges, this usually involves some revision of quarterly data for some countries.

Annual data as presented in this publication are the rolling four quarter totals ending in the latest quarter and the corresponding four quarters for earlier years. As a result, the four quarters included do not necessarily come from the same calendar year. For example, the 'annual' growth rate in Figure 1 shows the percentage change for the four quarters ending in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the four quarters ending in the third quarter of 2022. The basic results (in million tonnes) and the derived indicators (growth rates) shown in the figures and tables are rounded. However, they are all based on non-rounded original data, as available in Eurostat's database.

Specific remarks for data up to and including the third quarter of 2023:

There is a break in time series from 2021Q1 due to methodological improvement in the data reported by the Netherlands.

Starting from 2013 Q1, the quarterly figures for Germany include data for all national ports (both main ports and minor ports).

The quarterly data for port activity in France have been partially estimated by Eurostat for the period 2010 Q1-2016 Q1. These data are to be considered as provisional and are likely to be revised. In general, such estimates reduce the accuracy of the statistics at detailed levels.

Starting from 2019 Q1, the statistical coverage of data has improved for Greece, having more ports reporting quarterly data. Starting from 2021 Q1, the statistical coverage of data has again improved for Greece, having more ports reporting quarterly data.

Starting from 2011 Q1, the quarterly figures for Spain include data for a number of regional ports outside the state-controlled port system.

Starting from 2018 Q1, quarterly figures for Portugal include data for all national ports (both main ports and minor ports).

Starting from 2013 Q1, the quarterly figures for Sweden include data for all national ports (both main ports and minor ports). Until 2023, data for Sweden include inland waterway transport. The share of inland waterway transport is less than 3% of all goods handled in Swedish ports.

Due to revisions of the underlying data, figures in this article may differ from figures currently or previously available on Eurostat's website.

Context

The content of this statistical article is based on data collected within the framework of the EU maritime transport statistics Directive 2009/42/EC of 6 May 2009 on statistical returns in respect of carriage of goods and passengers by sea, which is a recast of the original Council Directive 95/64/EC of 8 December 1995.

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Notes