European ports map

Insights on the top 10 european ports in 2023

Clic to discover more

Welcome to an interactive exploration of the Top 10 European ports by size and activity. In the dynamic landscape of international commerce, container transportation is ascending in significance for European trade, shaping the way goods move across borders. Ports are developing increasingly daily, and concepts such as technological developments and sustainability come to the fore.

Thttps://blog.shipsgo.com/european-ports-ranking-list/

More on European ports

The first area that stands out, is the North Sea. In particular the ports of the Netherlands and Belgium. Rotterdam is by far the largest port in Europe, moving 434,846,000 metric tonnes of cargo in 2021. That’s more than double the amount of cargo compared to Europe’s second biggest port, Antwerp (215,852,000). Which moves almost double the amount of Europe’s third largest port, Novorossiysk (142,800).Other areas in Europe with a large concentration of busy ports are the area around Bremen and Hamburg, the Gulf of Finland, the Sea of Marmara and the Northern shores of the Black Sea. Note that this data is from before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Maritime shipping in the Black Sea has dropped significantly since then.

https://landgeist.com/2023/08/29/europes-100-busiest-cargo-ports/

Piraeus Port

This port is located near Athens, the capital of Greece; the Port of Piraeus proudly holds the title of the largest port in Greece. In particular, the Chinese conglomerate COSCO has a significant portion of the property. The port includes three terminals with a notable over 8 million TEU capacity. It is around 5 Million TEU in the H1 period of 2023. It is one of the rare ports that show an increase in the decreasing European trade volume.

https://blog.shipsgo.com/european-ports-ranking-list/

Rotterdam Port

The Port of Rotterdam has again secured its position as the top European container port for another year, with nearly 14 million TEU’s recorded in 2023 H1. Also, the overall cargo volume at this Dutch port remained stable throughout the previous year, totaling around 468 million metric tonnes.

https://blog.shipsgo.com/european-ports-information/

Bremerhaven Port

The Port of Bremerhaven is located in Germany. Located on the banks of the Weser River, this port’s container terminal plays an essential role in managing Germany’s import and export activities. With the influence of the port, Bremerhaven has become a vital center for trade and tourism. The port, which reached 4.5 Million TEU in the 2023 H1 Period, is essential for the country.

https://blog.shipsgo.com/european-ports-ranking-list/

Gioia Tauro Port

Port of Gioia is located in Southern Italy. The Port of Gioia Tauro stands as one of the leading container ports in Europe. Its strategic location on the bustling sea route connecting Suez and Gibraltar places it in one of the busiest sea corridors in the world. In particular, this Italian container hub has defied the prevailing trend with a remarkable 33.6% growth in container volumes between 2019 and 2022. This achievement is particularly notable given that many other ports have experienced declines in container volumes during the challenging COVID-19 era. It has reached 3.3 million TEU’s in the 2023 H1 period.

https://blog.shipsgo.com/european-ports-ranking-list/

Valencia Port

Valencia Port stands as an essential region among Mediterranean ports. With over 15,000 employees, it is a bustling hub for more than 7,500 naval vessels annually. The port’s broad reach extends its economic impact over a wide area spanning 350 kilometers. It reached 5 Million TEU levels in the 2023 H1 period.

https://blog.shipsgo.com/european-ports-ranking-list/

Le Havre Port

Le Havre Haropa Port represents a dynamic port complex in France consisting of Le Havre, Rouen, and Paris ports. Its history dates back to 1517, when Le Havre was founded. In 1524, the Port of Le Havre started its official activities to promote trade. In particular, it has a distinctive artificial port designed for efficient cargo handling. In the 2023 H1 period, the port has reached 3.1 Million TEU’s.

https://blog.shipsgo.com/european-ports-ranking-list/

Antwerp Port

The Antwerp Port handled 13 million TEU’s in container traffic in the second position in 2023 H1. It’s worth highlighting that the merger of the two Belgian ports, Antwerp and Zeebrugge, was completed in April 2022, leading to the official commencement of operations at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

https://blog.shipsgo.com/european-ports-ranking-list/

Algeciras Port

Algeciras Port, located in Andalusia, Spain.. The Algeciras Bay Administration, or the APBA, is responsible for its operations and oversight. This maritime powerhouse has two primary container terminals: APM Terminals Algeciras, with a maximum draft of 17 meters, and Total Terminal International Algeciras, with a top draft of 17.5 to 18.5 meters. It has reached 4.6 Million TEU in the 2023 H1 Period.

https://blog.shipsgo.com/european-ports-ranking-list/

Barcelona Port

Located in the northeastern corner of Spain, the Port of Barcelona is considered one of the most important in Spain and one of the most important ports in Europe. With more than 2,000 years of maritime history, it has a rich history of continuous operation. Today, the Port of Barcelona is an essential port for container traffic, with two container terminals efficiently handling the passage of more than 3,000 container ships each year. It has reached the level of 3.5 million TEU in the 2023 H1 period.

https://blog.shipsgo.com/european-ports-ranking-list/

Hamburg Port

Hamburg Port, located in Hamburg, Germany. Referred to as Germany’s “Gateway to the World,” it is the country’s largest seaport in terms of volume. In 2023 H1, the Port of Hamburg managed 8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

https://blog.shipsgo.com/european-ports-information/