Maritime transport of goods - quarterly data

Data extracted in October 2024

Planned article update: 18 February 2025

Highlights

809.1 million tonnes of goods were handled in the main EU ports in the 1st quarter of 2024.

The gross weight of goods handled in the main EU ports decreased by 3.2% in the 1st quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter of 2023.

Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in EU main ports (2018Q1-2024Q1)

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 1st quarter of 2024. 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 3.2% in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with the same quarter of 2023

At 809.1 million tonnes, the gross weight of goods handled in the main EU ports decreased by 2.7% in the 1st quarter of 2024 compared with the previous quarter and by 3.2% versus the same quarter of 2023 (Figures 1 and 2).

After a steady recovery, following the economic crisis in 2008 and a peak in activity reached in the 2nd quarter of 2019, maritime transport then observed a downward trend until the 2nd quarter of 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A partial recovery continued until the 2nd quarter of 2022. After that, 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 4.1% compared with the previous period (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports by direction, EU, 2012Q1-2024Q1
(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhd)

Inward movement of goods represented 61.1% of the total volume of goods handled in the main EU ports in the 1st quarter of 2024

In the 1st quarter of 2024, 61.1% of the total volume of goods handled in the main EU ports were inward movements. The same percentage was observed in the previous quarter. This share decreased by 1.2 percentage points (pp) compared with the previous year's 1st quarter.

Compared with the 1st quarter of 2023, inward movements of goods to the main EU ports decreased by 5.0%, to 494.2 million tonnes in the 1st quarter of 2024. Outward movements remained relatively stable over the same period (-0.2%), at 314.9 million tonnes.

When looking at the overall annual aggregate, inward movements of goods decreased by 5.2% while outward movements fell by 2.4%.

Figure 2: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports, EU, 2012Q1-2024Q1
(% change rate on same quarter of previous year and 'annual' change rate)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhd)

Dry bulk goods decreased by 10.6% in the 1st quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter of 2023

Compared with the same quarter of 2023, dry bulk goods (-10.6%) fell substantially in the 1st quarter of 2024. The other types of cargo also decreased: other cargo by 5.1%, Roll on - roll off (Ro-Ro) units by 2.8%, liquid bulk goods by 2.7% and large containers by 0.5%. When looking at the overall annual change, dry bulk goods decreased by 9.5%, Ro-Ro units by 8.4%, liquid bulk goods by 2.7% and other cargo by 1.6%. By contrast, large containers increased by 5.2% (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports by type of cargo, EU, 2022Q1-2024Q1
(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhk)

The Netherlands, Spain and Italy each handled more than 100 million tonnes of goods in the 1st quarter of 2024

In the 1st quarter of 2024, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy were the EU countries 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, 2023Q1, 2023Q4 and 2024Q1
(million tonnes
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_cwh)

In the 1st quarter of 2024, 11 of the maritime EU countries recorded a decrease in the tonnes of goods handled in their main ports, compared with the same quarter of 2023 (Table 1). In relative terms, the largest decrease was observed for Croatia (-24.0%), followed by Italy (-16.8%), Poland (-15.1%), Latvia (-10.9%), Estonia (-9.9%) and Denmark (-9.0%). By contrast, Malta reported the highest increase in main port activity in this period (+92.6%; this large change in percentage should be considered in relation to a low initial value), followed by Romania (+16.2%) and France (+8.2%).

When looking at the overall annual change, 14 EU countries recorded a decrease. The largest drop was recorded by Estonia (-27.6%), followed by Latvia (-22.5%), Finland (-9.3%) and Croatia (-9.1%). By contrast, the most noticeable growth was observed in Malta (+68.7%; this large change in percentage should be considered in relation to a low initial value), followed by Romania (+19.0%).

Table 1: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports, in selected quarters, 2022Q1-2024Q1
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_cwh)

In the 1st quarter of 2024, the main maritime trade flow was inward movements of crude oil from the East coast of the USA

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 3 quarters of 2022, compared with the other quarters presented.

At 517.0 million tonnes, short sea shipping tonnages to and from the main EU ports decreased by 2.9% in the 1st quarter of 2024, compared with the same quarter in 2023. Deep sea shipping tonnages also fell by 3.4%, to 278.0 million tonnes (Figure 5). When looking at the overall annual change, short sea shipping decreased by 3.6% while deep sea shipping fell by 0.4%, compared with the previous period.

Figure 5: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports by type of shipping, EU, 2022Q1-2024Q1
(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhg)

Between the 1st quarter of 2023 and the same quarter of 2024, national transport decreased by 7.5%, international extra-EU transport by 3.0% and international intra-EU transport by 1.2% (Figure 6). When looking at the overall annual change, international extra-EU transport decreased by 3.1%, national transport by 2.9% and international intra-EU transport by 0.8%.

Figure 6: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports by type of transport, EU, 2022Q1-2024Q1
(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewht)

The decrease in international extra-EU transport in the 1st quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter in 2023 was mainly due to the fall in seaborne transport with 'Asia & Oceania' (-6.1 million tonnes or -5.4%) and 'Africa' (-5.8 million tonnes or -5.5%) (Figure 7). Transport with 'Europe, except EU' also decreased by -2.7% (or -4.0 million tonnes). By contrast, seaborne transport with America increased by 0.9% (or 1.1 million tonnes). When looking at the overall annual change, seaborne transport with America and Africa increased by +3.4% and 1.3%, respectively, compared with the previous period. By contrast, ‘Europe except EU’ fell substantially by 12.8%. Seaborne transport with 'Asia & Oceania' remained relatively stable (-0.3%).

Figure 7: Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in main ports by partner regions, EU, 2022Q1-2024Q1
(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 1st quarter of 2024, for 8 consecutive quarters. The United Kingdom (UK) was the EU's second-largest maritime freight transport partner in the 1st quarter of 2024, followed by Norway, Türkiye and China. Transport with Russia was at the 6th position; Egypt, Brazil, Morocco 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 (24.5%) of total extra-EU maritime transport.

Maritime transport between the EU and Morocco recorded the largest increase in the 1st quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter of 2023 (+26.0%), followed by the USA (+5.7%) and China (+2.1%). By contrast, traffic with the remaining top 10 partner countries decreased over the same period. The most substantial fall was recorded with Brazil (-9.8%), followed by Russia (-7.1%).

When looking at the overall annual change, transport between the EU and Morocco (+18.7%), Egypt (+10.6%), the USA (+9.4%) and Norway (+8.3%) substantially increased. By contrast, the highest decrease was observed for transport between the EU and Russia (-49.4%), followed by Türkiye (-11.7%).

Figure 8: Top 10 extra-EU partner countries in maritime transport, EU, 2023Q1-2024Q1
(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 1st quarter of 2024, crude oil and liquefied gas from the USA's East coast ports represented more than two-fifths (42.6%) 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 7.7% of the total transport between the EU and the USA. In the 1st quarter of 2024, the main maritime trade flow was the inward movements of crude oil from the USA, with 18.2 million tonnes. Inward movements of large containers from China were second, with 16.2 million tonnes. When looking at outward movements, large containers going to China were also the second main maritime trade flow (6.4 million tonnes), after the outward movements of Ro-Ro mobile units to the UK (11.7 million tonnes).

In the 1st quarter of 2024, 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, Ro-Ro mobile units to and from the United Kingdom, agricultural products from Ukraine, ores from the East coast of Canada, large containers from Türkiye and to the East coast of the USA, as well as coal from the USA's East coast .

Figure 9: Top 20 extra-EU maritime trade flows, EU, 2023Q1, 2023Q4 and 2024Q1
(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewh)

In the 1st quarter of 2024, compared with the same quarter of 2023, the most noticeable increases were recorded for oil products from the East coast of the USA (+133.3%), agricultural products from Ukraine (+66.5%), ores from the East coast of Canada (+50.9%), crude oil from the East coast of the USA (+48.1%), large containers from Türkiye (+29.0%) and from China (+11.8%), as well as oil products to the United Kingdom (+15.8%). By contrast, large decreases were observed for coal from the East coast of the USA (-31.4%) and crude oil from the UK (-23.5%) (Table 2).

When looking at the overall annual change, 13 out of the top 20 maritime trade flows grew compared with the previous period. The highest increase was registered in the inward movements of agricultural products from Ukraine (+64.5%), followed by inward movements of crude oil from the East coast of the USA (+52.7%), Libya (+50.2%), Iraq (+31.2%), Norway (+28.2%) and Nigeria (+19.3%), inward movements of oil products from the East coast of the USA (+45.6%), outward movements of large containers from the East coast of the USA (+18.3%), inward movements of liquefied gas from the East coast of the USA (+17.7%) and inward movements of ores from the East coast of Canada (+15.1%). By contrast, the highest drops were recorded for the inward movements of coal from the East coast of the USA (-26.5%) and inward movements of crude oil from the UK (-12.8%).

Table 2: Top 20 extra-EU maritime trade flows, EU, in selected quarters, 2022Q1-2024Q1
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 3 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 2 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 4 types constitute 'liquid bulk', the subsequent 4 types 'dry bulk' and the last 3 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 4 quarter totals ending in the latest quarter and the corresponding 4 quarters for earlier years. As a result, the 4 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 4 quarters ending in the 1st quarter of 2024 compared with the 4 quarters ending in the 1st quarter of 2023. 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 1st quarter of 2024:

There is a break in time series from 2020Q1 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 2023 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