Data extracted in June 2025
Planned article update: 30 October 2025
Highlights
817.5 million tonnes of goods were handled in the main EU ports in Q4 2024.
The gross weight of goods handled in the main EU ports decreased by 1.7% in Q4 2024 compared with the same quarter of 2023.
Gross weight of seaborne goods handled in EU main ports (Q4 2018 - Q4 2024)
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 Q4 2024. Please note that the quarterly port activity figures are provisional and subject to revisions.
Gross weight of goods handled in the main EU ports decreased by 1.7% in Q4 2024
At 817.5 million tonnes, the gross weight of goods handled in the main EU ports decreased by 1.3% in Q4 2024 compared with the previous quarter and decreased by 1.7% versus the same quarter of 2023 (Figures 1 and 2).
After a steady recovery, following the economic crisis and a peak in activity reached in Q2 2019, maritime transport then observed a downward trend until Q2 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A partial recovery continued until Q2 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 1.7% compared with the previous period (Figure 2).
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhd)
Inward movement of goods represented 62.7% of the total volume of goods handled in the main EU ports in Q4 2024
In Q4 2024, 62.7% of the total volume of goods handled in the main EU ports were inward movements, a slight increase of 0.8 percentage points (pp) compared with the previous quarter. This share increased by 1.8 pp compared with Q4 in the previous year.
Compared with Q4 2023, inward movements of goods to the main EU ports increased by 1.2%, to 512.9 million tonnes in Q4 2024. Outward movements decreased by-6.3% to 304.5 million tonnes.
When looking at the overall annual aggregate, inward movements of goods decreased by 1.3% and outward movements by 2.2%.
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhd)
Roll on - roll off (Ro-Ro) decreased by 3.5% in Q4 2024 compared with the same quarter of 2023
Compared with the same quarter of 2023, Roll on - roll off (Ro-Ro) units (-3.5%) fell substantially in Q4 2024. Liquid bulk goods and Dry bulk goods also decreased by -3.4% and -1.9%, respectively. By contrast, other cargo increased by 5.3% and large containers by 0.7%. When looking at the overall annual change, dry bulk goods decreased by 4.8%, followed by Ro-Ro mobile units by 2.9%, liquid bulk by 2.5%. By contrast, other cargo increased by 2.8% and large containers by 2.3% (Figure 3).
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhk)
The Netherlands, Spain and Italy each handled more than 113 million tonnes of goods in Q4 2024
In Q4 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 113 million tonnes of goods (Figure 4).
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_cwh)
In Q4 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 Malta (-67.6%; this large change in percentage should be considered in relation to a low initial value), followed by Romania (-31.9%), Bulgaria (-14.3%), Croatia (-9.0%), Italy (-8.2%), Poland (-5.3%) and France (-3.3%). By contrast, Cyprus reported the highest increase in main port activity in this period (+24.5%), followed by Portugal (+10.4%) and Denmark (+9.0%).
When looking at the overall annual change, 11 EU countries recorded a decrease. The largest drop was recorded by Malta (-37.9), followed by Romania (-14.2%), Italy (-10.0%) and Croatia (-9.8%). By contrast, the most noticeable growth was observed in Lithuania (+6.1%), followed by Portugal (+4.7%), Slovenia and Spain (both +3.0%).
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_cwh)
In Q4 2024, the main maritime trade flow was inward movements of large containers from China
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 2 quarters of 2022, compared with the other quarters presented.
At 521 million tonnes, short sea shipping tonnages to and from the main EU ports decreased by 0.9% in Q4 2024, compared with the same quarter in 2023. By contrast, deep sea shipping tonnages fell by 3.3%, to 282 million tonnes (Figure 5). When looking at the overall annual change, short sea shipping increased by 0.3% while deep sea shipping fell by 4.7%, compared with the previous period.
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhg)
Between Q4 2023 and the same quarter of 2024, national transport decreased by 6.6% and international intra-EU transport by 1.3% while international extra-EU transport fell by 0.9% (Figure 6). When looking at the overall annual change, national transport decreased by 3.2%, international extra-EU transport decreased by 2.1% while international intra-EU transport increased by 0.7%.
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewht)
The decrease in international extra-EU transport in Q4 compared with the same quarter in 2023 was mainly due to the fall in seaborne transport with 'Asia & Oceania' (-9.9 million tonnes or -8.6%) and Africa (-6.5 million tonnes or -6.2%) (Figure 7). By contrast, transport with America increased by 6.1% (or 7.8 million tonnes), followed by seaborne transport with 'Europe, except EU' by 2.9% (or 4.1 million tonnes). When looking at the overall annual change, seaborne transport with 'Asia & Oceania', Africa and America decreased by 7.4%, 5.1% and 0.2% respectively. By contrast, seaborne transport with 'Europe except EU' increased by 2.6%.
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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 Q4 2024, for 11 consecutive quarters. The United Kingdom (UK) was the EU's second-largest maritime freight transport partner in Q4 2024, followed by Norway, Türkiye and China. Brazil, Egypt, Russia, Canada and Algeria 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 (24.2%) of total extra-EU maritime transport.
Maritime transport between the EU and Algeria recorded the largest increase in Q4 2024 compared with the same quarter of 2023 (+11.2%), followed by Türkiye (+10.2%), the United Kingdom (+3.4%) and the USA (+1.4%). By contrast, traffic with the remaining top 10 partner countries decreased over the same period. The most substantial fall was recorded with Egypt (-11.5%), followed by China (-9.4%).
When looking at the overall annual change, transport between the EU and Türkiye (+4.3%), Russia (+3.7%), Canada (+1.7%) and the United Kingdom (+0.2%) increased. By contrast, the highest decrease was observed for transport between the EU and China (-4.0%), followed by Egypt (-3.8%).
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewhp)
A substantial share of seaborne transport with China is made up of inward movements of large containers to the main EU ports, followed by the USA and Norway for crude oil (Figure 9). In Q4 2024, the main maritime trade flow was the inward movements of large containers from China, with 16.2 million tonnes. Inward movements of crude oil from the East coast of USA were second, with 14.6 million tonnes. When looking at outward movements, Ro-Ro mobile units to the UK was the main maritime trade flow (11.6 million tonnes), followed by large containers going to China (5.5 million tonnes). In Q4 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, ores from the East coast of Canada, agricultural products from Ukraine and large containers to the East coast of the USA.
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewh)
In Q4 2024, compared with the same quarter of 2023, the most noticeable increases were recorded for oil products from the UK (+32.5%), agricultural products from Ukraine (+21.5%), oil products from the East coast of USA (+16.0%), other dry bulk goods from Norway (+8.9%) and large containers from China (+6.9%). By contrast, large decreases were observed for crude oil from Nigeria (-30.5%) and large containers to China (-26.4%) (Table 2).
When looking at the overall annual change, 9 out of the top 20 maritime trade flows increased compared with the previous period. The highest increase was registered in the inward movements of agricultural products from Ukraine (+53.8%), followed by inward movements of oils products from the East coast of the USA (+32.7%), inward movements of ores from the East coast of Canada (+21.1%), inward movements of crude oil from Brazil (+17.7%), inward movements of other dry bulk goods from Norway (+14.2%),and inward movements of crude oil from the Black Sea of Russia (+11.7%). By contrast, the highest drops were recorded for the outward movements of large containers to China (-15.1%) and inward movements of liquified gas from the East coast of the USA (-12.7%).
Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_ewh)
Source data for tables and graphs
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.
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 Q4 2024:
- There is a break in time series from 2015Q1 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.
Footnotes
Explore further
Other articles
Database
- Transport, see:
- Maritime transport (mar)
- Maritime transport - main annual results (mar_m)
- Maritime transport - short sea shipping - main annual results (mar_s)
- Maritime transport - passengers (mar_pa)
- Maritime transport - goods (mar_go)
- Maritime transport - vessel traffic (mar_tf)
- Maritime transport - regional statistics (mar_rg)
Thematic section
Methodology
- Maritime transport (ESMS metadata file — mar_esms)
- Reference Manual on Maritime Transport Statistics
- Glossary for transport statistics - 5th edition - 2019
Legislation
The basic legal act (Directive 2009/42/EC) has been amended by:
- Summaries of EU legislation: Statistical returns in respect of carriage of goods and passengers by sea
- Commission Decision 2010/216/EU of the EP and of the Council of 14 April 2010, OJ L 94, 15.4.2010, p. 33-40
- Regulation (EU) No 1090/2010 of the EP and of the Council of 24 November 2010, OJ L 325, 9.12.2010, p. 1-3
- Commission Delegated Decision 2012/186/EU of 3 February 2012 OJ L 101 of 11.4.2012 pp. 5-14.
The following legal acts include the last official version of the list of ports and some dissemination aspects, respectively:
- Commission Decision 2001/423/EC of 22 May 2001 (on dissemination) OJ L 151 of 07.06.2001 p. 41
- Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2018/1007 of 25 April 2018 supplementing Directive 2009/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the list of ports and repealing Commission Decision 2008/861/EC (Text with EEA relevance.), OJ L 180, 17.7.2018, p. 29–71