The Port of Barcelona has achieved new highest-ever levels for both monthly and quarterly container traffic.
In March 2024, 348 thousand TEUs (+34.3%) were handled, of which 154 thousand were transhipments (+63.9%) and 194 thousand were import-export (+17.4%)
Last month, the port of Barcelona handled 6.16 million tonnes of goods, a volume that represents the new record for the month of March and an increase of +12.8% over March 2023. The new peak was reached mainly thanks to to the remarkable increase of +29.3% in containerized traffic that is 3.55 million tonnes, representing the New record for this month. In addition, in March 2024, the traffic of Container measured in 20' containers handled on docks of the Catalan port has set a new all-time record A total of 348 thousand TEUs were generated (+34.3%). To confirm the contribution of containerised cargo flows to Spanish ports caused by the ongoing geopolitical crisis in the Middle East, which has led airlines not to allow their ships in the Suez Canal and divert them onto the route through the Cape of Good Hope, last month the container transshipped to Barcelona amounted to 154,000 TEUs, a volume that represents an exceptional growth of +63.9%. The import and export container traffic that in March 2024 amounted to 194 thousand TEUs (+17.4%), given that represents the new all-time record.
Liquid bulk cargo also increased last month amounted to 1.20 million tonnes (+3.1%), of which 759 thousand tonnes of hydrocarbons (-9.3%) and 442 thousand tonnes of other loads (+34.7%). On the other hand, both solid bulk and dry bulk are down with 396 thousand tonnes (-20.7%) than conventional goods with 1.01 million tonnes. tonnes (-3.5%).
As of March 2024, passenger traffic in the Catalan port is 250,000 people (+15.4%), of which 129,000 cruise passengers (+7.9%) and 121 thousand ferry passengers (+24.6%).
In the first quarter of 2024, total freight traffic was 16.5 million tonnes, an increase of +8.5% on the same period last year. Containerized goods only, with 9.71 million tonnes (+20.5%), set a new record for this time of year, a record that is absolute if the Containers handled are counted in 20-foot containers having amounted to 951 thousand TEUs (+22.9%). Growing are conventional goods were also recorded with 2.74 million tonnes (+3.0%), while liquid and solid bulk were decreased by -7.4% and -15.5% respectively to 2.99 million and 1.08 million tonnes. In the car segment, the Vehicle handling was 185,000 units (-6,3%). In the passenger sector, traffic was 315,000 cruise passengers (+8.0%) and 248,000 passengers (+10.6%).
