Throughout history, maritime transport has triggered development and prosperity for Europe. Maritime Transport enables trade and contacts between all European nations. It ensures the security of supply of energy, food and commodities and provides the main vehicle for European imports and exports to the rest of the world. Almost 90% of the EU’s external freight trade is seaborne. Short sea shipping represents one third of intra-EU exchanges in terms of ton-kilometers.
Effective maritime transport services are essential for maintaining a good quality of life on Europe’s islands and in its peripheral maritime regions. Over 400 million passengers embark and disembark across European ports each year. Maritime industries are a significant source of employment and income for the European economy.
On the other hand, while container traffic remains a key segment in port expansion, its prominence diminished in 2023 when compared to 2018, the study finding that general trade growth was less important an investment driver last year than energy transition. In this blog post we have an overview of the busiest port of Europe.
ESPO study: European ports in need of €80 billion investment by 2034
Despite economic uncertainty and global challenges, the ESPO Port Investments Study 2024 demonstrates that European ports continue to invest significantly in their future. Regional port authorities in Europe allocated €3.8 billion to infrastructure and environmental projects in 2023, a significant 10% year-on-year increase in planned investments. The growth trend shows European ports taking their ability to meet modern requirements to the next level.
Much of this investment is earmarked for sustainability in decarbonization and green upgrades. Various ships and ports are doing their best to minimize their impact on the environment, with many working on implementing greener technologies and sustainable energy systems. This includes initiatives to improve energy efficiency, use alternative fuels and cut emissions.
There is also a very strong drive to digitalization, with ports upgrading applications to enhance productivity, improve connections and facilitate operations. Ports are preparing for major investments in new technologies to be able to continue to compete in a global trade landscape that is changing at an unprecedented pace.
Another important dimension of the program will be strengthening port infrastructure, as well as enhancing facilities to accommodate some larger vessels and transport networks. As global trade demand grows, ports are already preparing, making sure they can cope with more traffic and bigger boats.
To secure the ongoing growth of Europe’s ports and its respective supply chains, the study highlights that cooperation among port authorities, governments and EU decision-makers will be crucial. Investments must accompany policies already set to not just kick-start growth in the post-Covid world, but to also face challenges for future generations including a transition towards a greener economy and the effects of climate change.
Europe’s Busiest port
Rotterdam (NL)
The Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port and one of the world’s busiest ports, processes more than 438 million tons of cargo each year. FACILITATING INTERNATIONAL TRADE Its strategic location and 24-meter draft depth can accommodate the largest ships and position it as a major gateway to global commerce. As Europe’s biggest petroleum port, it is an essential hub for crude oil, natural gas, and dry bulk shipments of coal, ore and scrap metal, as well as specialized project cargo and automotive shipments. The port is at the forefront of automation, deploying robotic cranes and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to increase efficiency. Its Maasvlakte 2 extension, constructed on reclaimed land, features the latest in digital infrastructure and automated container terminals to enable uninterrupted flow of goods. Rotterdam is a global logistics powerhouse, with 45 kilometers of quays and an expected 468 million tonnes of cargo in 2025.
Antwerp-Bruges (BE)
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is Belgium’s largest, and a key European logistics hub. But it is second in container traffic and offers deep-water access, meaning large vessels can dock. The port serves an important role in petrochemical industries and transshipment services, linking Europe to regional markets in Asia, the Americas and Africa. Following its merger with Zeebrugge, it has looked to consolidate its standing and investment within the global trade market, especially in the areas of liquid bulk and automotive shipments. Antwerp-Bruges is also emerging as a leader in digitalization as well as sustainability, with a focus on hydrogen energy and carbon-neutral logistics operations.
Hamburg (DE)
Farther north, Hamburg’s mossy red-bricked warehouses murmur history. But this historic port is also buzzing with modern cargo-handling efficiency, with 8.3 million TEU of container capacity. Strategically located on the Elbe River, it has access to deep-sead craft and connects well to inland waterways, making it an important trade route for Eastern Europe. In addition, Hamburg uses heavy and automated guided vehicles and digital freight platforms to become innovative.
Piraeus (EL)
Piraeus, located in the southeast of Greece, is home to Europe’s biggest passenger port and as such is a huge draw for cruise ships from around the world bringing tourists eager to explore this centuries-old city. With a population of more than 160,000, Piraeus has many attractions to fill an entire vacation including religious and historic landmarks and fantastic restaurants. But yet another major draw is the fact that it’s easy to visit Athens because it’s located nearby. The Greek capital city of Athens is just 12 kilometers (7 miles) from Piraeus Port.
Valencia (ES)
Soaked in the glowing Spanish sun, Valencia is a Mediterranean treasure. Its vibrant container terminals handle near 5 million TEUs making it one of the main gates to Southern Europe. Valencia is unique in the fact that it has different terminals for various businesses that makes the overall port a hub, bringing in refrigerated goods, cars and cruise ships all in and out of the city. However, the true star of the show is the Valenciaport Innovation Hub, and everything here is powered by innovative logistics solutions that prove València’s mettle as a pioneer of sustainable and efficient port operations.
Algeciras (ES)
Tucked at the southern tip of Spain, Algeciras is at the crossroads of continents. It handles more passenger traffic than any other port in the world — on the Mediterranean, ferries take millions to Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar. With around 4.7 million TEUs being handled at its state-of-the-art container terminal, it is an important gateway for Euro-African trade. Source: Algeciras also rated highest in sustainability, incorporating green technologies and renewable energy sources to help reduce their impact on the environment.
Bremerhaven (DE)
Port of Bremerhaven, located in northern Germany, is one of the largest container ports in Europe. The deep-water capable and broad-based berthing on the Weser River represents an optimal location for the handling of many types of cargo. It has a strategic geographical location to be easily connected to major European cities, along with great logistics services.
Bremerhaven was founded in the early 19th century and since its inception has transformed into a key player in the global shipping industry. As international trade has evolved over the years, so have its operations, continuously expanding the facilities and services to meet the increasing demand for vessel movements and cargo handling. Today, the location serves as an important bridge between European and worldwide supply chains, with the continued growth of its advanced infrastructure and solutions for transport and shipping.
Gioia Tauro (IT)
The Port of Gioia Tauro is a major seaport in southwest Italy and Italy’s largest seaport by cargo container throughput. Gioia Tauro is a "comune" in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, along the Tyrrhenian coast. It has a critical port, located on the route from Suez to Gibraltar, one of the most active maritime corridors in the world.
The port is built over an area of approximately 4.4 million square meters, with a depth of water capable of accepting even the largest of modern container ships.
The Gioia Tauro Port has experienced major expansion since its creation in the early 1970s and subsequent transformation into a container terminal in the mid-90s, both in its structure and its number of containers operated. It is served by an extensive rail and road network, which is used to transport cargo to many markets in Europe and beyond.
Meanwhile, 2024 has taken off with increasing momentum for the Italian port of Gioia Tauro, which grew 11% and reached a new all-time high of 3.94 million TEUs.
Barcelona (ES)
Port of Barcelona, located in Barcelona, Spain, is the largest European port and the most important cruise port in Europe. Acclaimed for its top-tier beaches and vibrant culture, the port regularly handles a range of high-value cargo, including containers, cruise ships, grains and chemicals. its central location in the city, passenger terminals and superb rail and road connections make it a distribution hub for Spain and beyond. Not only is the port already a significant hub for passenger traffic, but it is also investing heavily in sustainability, with the ambition of becoming an international pioneer for sustainable operations and logistics.
All data from the Port of Barcelona show that by the end of 2024 their container traffic has experienced a blast, boasting a 21% increase in TEU volume this year, with figures standing at around 3.3 million TEU a full ten months earlier than in 2023.
Marsaxlokk (MT)
Marsaxlokk is a small fishing village in South Eastern Malta, located around 10 kilometers away from the capital Valletta. Famous for its colorful boats and bustling fish market, it is also home to one of Malta’s largest ports.
The port is both a busy commercial center for container shipping and a traditional fishing harbor. It’s a natural bay, augmented by human elements to facilitate movement of watercraft, providing a haven from the storm.
Marsaxlokk Port comprises a free zone, two principal terminals (container and breakbulk), an oil terminal, along with large-scale storage facilities. The canal is transited in each direction annually by about 2,690 ships, carrying some 2.8 million TEUs of cargo.
Ports of Genoa (IT)
The “ports of Genoa”, one of the main ports in the Mediterranean Sea and the southern gate of the Rhine Alpine Corridor, is a maritime gateway to the leading industrial and consumer centers in Northern Italy and in Central Europe, specifically, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
The ports of Genoa and Savona are deeply integrated with the logistics and transport network also from the technological one thanks to IT systems. The Port Authority has a large experience of PCS development. First module of Genoa PCS (e-port) was launched in 2007, while in Savona port the PCS (security and control access module) started in 2005.
The Ports of Genoa closed 2024 with a +1.2% growth rate in total throughput on the previous year, amounting to 64,493,696 tons, notwithstanding the challenges posed by the geopolitical risks and economic turmoil which characterized the past year, namely, the Red Sea crisis and the disruptions caused by the Suez Canal
Haropa (FR)
HAROPA, the 5th largest port complex in Northern Europe, is a joint venture between the ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris. It is connected to every continent owing to a first-rate international shipping offer (linking around 700 ports worldwide). It serves a vast hinterland the center of which is in the Seine valley and the Paris region forming the biggest French consumer market area. With around 10 Normandy and Paris area partner ports, HAROPA now forms in France a global transport and logistics system, capable of providing a comprehensive end-to-end service. HAROPA handles over 120 million tons of cargo by sea and waterway each year. HAROPA business represents 160,000 jobs.
In 2024, HAROPA Port handled 3.1 million TEU, according to latest reports, as container traffic continued to rise.
Gdańsk (PL)
The Port of Gdańsk is one of the fastest developing ports in Europe, while the DCT Gdańsk terminal enables transshipments from ultra large container vessels over 24,000 TEU and is called the only deep-water Polish port capable of operating ULCC, allowing for significant container transshipment operations both from the Baltic Sea to Central Europe and beyond. The port, Poland’s maritime gateway, moves more than 22 million tonnes and over 3 million TEUs of cargo annually. Gdansk is a key player in Baltic trade, with modern facilities and a strategic location.
Sines (PE)
Set in action in 1978, the Port of Sines is in a part of the world which is optimal to serve Ibero-Atlantic front. In 2018, the port moved 47.8 million tonnes of cargo.It houses multiple terminals, including a liquid bulk terminal, petrochemical terminal, multi-purpose terminal, TGN terminal, and container terminal, as well as a fishing harbor and a leisure port.It offers a range of services such as maritime traffic control, navigation, tug and mooring services, handling and storage of cargos, waste reception services, and maritime transport services.
An advanced maritime traffic control system named VTS was recently installed at the port to improve maritime security and surveillance.The heliport of the port is situated towards the western side of the APS’ jurisdiction area, which also houses final approach and touch (FATO), and parking zone.
Port of Sines is expected to become one of the main ports in the Western Mediterranean region, as well as in the world, upon completion of the development projects.The container handling capacity will be increased to seven million TEUs, which will enable the port to attract cargo from customers across the globe.
Marseille (FR)
France’s Port of Marseille is one of the oldest seaports in the country and its busiest oil port. It handles oil and bulk liquids, and bulk solids such as minerals and grains. Controlled by the Marseilles Fos port authority, the port serves as a trade gateway to European markets.
The port is made up of east and the west basins. The east basin covers an area of 400ha while the west basin is spread over 10,000ha.
The port’s 980m deepwater quay is served by a river station at a maximum draft of 12.8m and three deepwater stations at a maximum draft of 16.5m.
It’s a major player in international trade, and accommodates nearly 10,000 ships, handles 79 million tonnes of goods, serves 800 customers and is developing 10,400 hectares in an experimental process.
Final thoughts: Europe’s global position
On a global level, only three of these top 15 ports in Europe feature in the list of top 20 ports in the world in terms of container traffic. These are evidently the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg, who sit at 11th, 14th, and 18th place respectively. The US ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach take 19th and 20th positions on the list, and the rest are made up of Asian ports.
According to Port Economics’, European container traffic has grown a considerable 12.1% since the pre-economic crisis in 2007. This growth is evident in 10 out of the 15 ports. Within these growths, we see remarkable differences. The top 3 ports (Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg) grew 6.4%. On the other side, we see also more remarkable advancements in Port Piraeus (Greece) and Port Marsaxlokk (Malta) with a growth of 139.4% and 63.2% respectively. Provinces: Valencia and Algeciras were also prominent in Spain with growths of 51.7 % and 31.9 % respectively.
