Data extracted in October 2025
Planned article update: 5 February 2026
Highlights
Rotterdam continues to lead the EU in port activity, with 94.5 million tonnes of goods handled in Q1 2025.
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This article presents quarterly statistics on maritime transport of goods in the European Union (EU) ports. It covers the gross weight of goods handled in the main EU ports, by type of cargo.
The article contains data for Q1 2025. Please note that the quarterly port activity figures are provisional and subject to revision.
Rotterdam remained the EU port with the highest activity in Q1 2025
Rotterdam was by far the EU port with the highest activity in Q1 2025, with 94.5 million tonnes of gross weight of goods handled (Figure 1). The second main port was Antwerp-Bruges, which handled 60.1 million tonnes. The third port was Hamburg with 24.5 million tonnes. The fourth and fifth ports were Algeciras and HAROPA, with 19.6 million tonnes and 18.4 million tonnes, respectively. Hamburg increased by 2.8% compared with Q1 2024. In the same period, the other 4 ports in the top 5 decreased: HAROPA by 9.6%, Algeciras by 6.4%, Rotterdam by 5.4% and Antwerp-Bruges by 4.6%.
When looking at the overall annual change, all of the top 5 decreased: HAROPA by 4.2%, Rotterdam by 1.7%, Hamburg by 1.1%, Antwerp-Bruges and Algeciras both by 0.9%.
When looking at liquid bulk, Rotterdam was by far the main EU port in Q1 2025, followed by Antwerp-Bruges, Marseille, HAROPA and Trieste (Figure 2). Only Marseille increased by 12.1% compared with the same quarter of the previous year. By contrast, Antwerp-Bruges registered the largest decrease by 18.1%, followed by HAROPA (-9.6%), Trieste (-9.1%) and Rotterdam (-7.2%). When looking at the overall annual change rate compared with the previous period, only Trieste registered an increase (+1.1%). By contrast, Antwerp-Bruges decreased by 12.5%, HAROPA by 8.6%, Rotterdam by 3.9% and Marseille by 1.1%.
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_pwhl)
When looking at dry bulk, Rotterdam was again the main EU port in Q1 2025, followed by Amsterdam, Constanta, Hamburg, and Zeeland Seaports (Figure 3). Compared with the same quarter of 2024, Amsterdam increased by 5.8%. By contrast, the 4 other ports decreased: Constanta by 33.7%, Rotterdam by 8.8%, Hamburg by 8.0% and Zeelamd Seaports by 1.7%. When looking at the overall annual change rate compared with the previous period, only 2 of the top 5 increased: Amsterdam (+6.1%) and Zeeland Seaports (+3.9%). By contrast, Constanta registered the largest decrease (-38.5%), Amsterdam (-7.3%) and Rotterdam (-1.3%).
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In the large container cargo segment, Antwerp-Bruges remained the main EU port in Q1 2025, followed by Rotterdam. Hamburg, Valencia and Algeciras completed the top 5 EU ports (Figure 4). Three out of the 5 ports decreased compared with the same quarter of the previous year. The largest decrease was registered by Algeciras (-9.8%), leading to an overall annual change of -4.1%. Rotterdam decreased by 1.7% compared with the same quarter of the previous year, with an overall annual change of +1.6%. Valencia decreased by 1.5% compared with the same quarter of the previous year, with an overall annual change of +5.5%. There was a 4.9% increase in Hamburg, with an overall annual change of +1.7%. Antwerp-Bruges increased by 4.3% compared with the same quarter of the previous year, showing overall annual changes of +8.1%.
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_pwhc)
When looking at the number of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled in the same period (Figure 5), the ranking was different to the one based on tonnes of containerised goods. Indeed, Rotterdam took the first place in front of Antwerp-Bruges and Bremerhaven is ranked fifth instead of Algeciras. All out of the 5 ports increased in Q1 2025 compared with the same quarter of 2024: Bremerhaven (+6.7%), Hamburg (+5.5%), Antwerp-Bruges (+4.0%), Valencia (+3.3%) and Rotterdam (+2.3%). Regarding the overall annual change compared with the previous period, Valencia recorded the highest increase (+11.7%), followed by Antwerp-Bruges (+7.9%), Bremerhaven (+4.4%), Rotterdam (+2.6%) and Hamburg (+1.9%).
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_pvh)
When looking at the tonnage of Ro-Ro mobile units, the picture is different compared with the other types of cargo. Antwerp-Bruges was the largest EU Ro-Ro port in Q1 2025. It was followed by Rotterdam, Calais, Lubeck and Trelleborg (Figure 6).
Compared with the same quarter of 2024, 3 of the 5 ports increased. Lubeck recorded the highest increase by 5.5%, followed by Antwerp-Bruges (+1.3%) and Trelleborg (+0.54%). When looking at the overall annual change compared with the previous period, all top 5 ports decreased, with the exception of Lubeck (+4.5%). Calais decreased by 3.3%, Trelleborg by 2.5%, Rotterdam by 2.0% and Antwerp-Bruges by 1.5%.
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_pwhr)
When looking at the tonnes for other general cargo, Valencia ranked first in Q1 2025, followed by Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, Ravenna and Riga (Figure 7). Riga increased substantially compared with the same quarter of 2024, by 42.4%, followed by Ravenna (+27.1%), Rotterdam (+15.1%) and Valencia (+1.0%). By contrast, only Antwerp-Bruges fell by 2.3% over the same period. When looking at the overall annual change rates compared with the previous period, Riga and Ravenna substantially increased by 25.6% and 16.8%, respectively (this large change in percentage should be considered in relation to a low initial value), Rotterdam increased by 5.8%, Antwerp-Bruges and Valencia by 0.8%.
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Source: Eurostat (mar_qg_qm_pwho)
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.
Data are presented at the level of 'statistical ports'. A statistical port consists of 1 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.
- Type of cargo: the following 13 cargo types are used: 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'.
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 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 Q1 2025:
- Starting from Q1 2022, the ports Antwerpen and Zeebrugge have been merged and the data are reported under the new port name Antwerp-Bruges.
- Starting from Q1 2022, the ports Le Havre and Rouen have been merged and the data are reported under the new port name HAROPA.
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.
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, p. 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