Port of Barcelona profits grow by 117% to €38 m in 2021 but still below pre-pandemic figures

The Port of Barcelona is on the road to economic recovery after a notable pandemic slump, as evidenced by figures made public on Wednesday: profits grew by 117% last year on 2020 to 38 million euros, but were still 13.6% below those seen in 2019.

As for total port traffic, last year the port registered 66.4 million tonnes, only 1.5% under 2019 figures and 11.8% more than in 2020.

Last year there was also a record number of container traffic, with 3.53 million TEU cargo units, 19.3% more than in 2020 after they dropped by 11% on 2019.

"This is one of the indicators that show that we are recovering swiftly," port president and former Catalan sustainability minister Damià Calvet said. "These are good figures."

Asia, a key trade partner

Almost half of all goods exported from the Port of Barcelona went to Asia last year, followed by the Americas (23%), Africa (17%), and other parts of Europe (12%).

Sales to China, mainly pork, grew by 42% last year, while those to Saudi Arabia were up by 69% and those to the United States increased 25%.

As for imports, 76% come from Asia, while 10% came from Europe, 9% came from North and South America, and 5% came from Africa. 

The return of cruise ships

Calvet is also confident more and more cruise ships will be returning to the Catalan capital and explained that companies believe tourists are eager to travel again.

"We will start recovering pre-pandemic [cruise ship] figures throughout 2022," he said. "Will we have the exact same figure by this December? We’ll see."

Last year over half a million cruise and ferry passengers traveled to Barcelona, 161.9% more than in 2020, but far from the 3.1 million that did three years ago.