Port of Barcelona enjoys record summer of activity

The port of Barcelona has reported record growth during the third quarter of the year, as the transport of shipping containers increases by 36.8% and total traffic by 31.2%

These figures confirm a continued rise in activity in relation to the growth experienced in recent quarters. The export and import of containers, which registered very positive growth rates, consolidates for port authorities that the port is a hub of international interconnections.

International growth

In terms of international activity between January and September, the port registered an increase in exports by 3.5% and imports by 9.3%

The most active markets since the start of the year tend to have been dynamic Asian countries. China registered increases in trade of up to 9.6%, the United Arab Emirates by 11.3%, South Korea  14.2%, India 14%, Japan 10% and Vietnam 6.2%.

Cruise ships

In the first nine months of the year, the Port of Barcelona received more than 3.2 million passengers. There was an increase in ferry traffic by 1.9% (a total of 1.2 million people) but a slight decrease in the number of cruise ship passengers, which decreased by 1.9% to 2 million people.

Sources from the Port of Barcelona said this decrease cannot be put down to the August 17 terrorist attacks as there are other factors at play. In July, for example, one month before the attacks, the number of cruise ship passengers decreased by 1.7%.