Freight traffic in Port de Barcelona grew by 20%

From January to September this year, Barcelona's port transported 100,666 UTI, the transport unit which equals a lorry, a platform or a trailer. The highest increase was registered in those services connecting the Catalan capital with Italian destinations, in particular Genoa, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Savona and Porto Torres. The rest of the goods transportation corresponded to short sea shippings, which are the connections between Barcelona and the North of Africa, mainly Tangier. Exports from January to September were higher than imports, and grew by 9% in comparison to the same period last year.Vehicle transportation continued to grow and registered 18% growth in the first nine months of the year, and 10,000 lorries have been diverted from road to maritime routes, according to data published this Thursday by Port de Barcelona for January to September.

Containers in Port de Barcelona (by ACN)
Containers in Port de Barcelona (by ACN) / ACN / Sara Prim

ACN / Sara Prim

October 15, 2015 04:17 PM

Barcelona (CNA).- Barcelona's port transported 34.9 million tons of cargoduring the first nine months of the year. This figure represents a 20% increase in comparison to the same period last year. The majority of this transportation, nearly 100,000 UTI, took place between Barcelona and Italy, in particular connecting the Catalan capital with Genoa, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Savona and Porto Torres. The rest of the goods transportation corresponded to short sea shippings, which are the connections between Barcelona and the North of Africa, mainly Tangier. According to data published this Thursday by Port de Barcelona, exports from January to September were higher than imports, and grew by 9% in comparison to the same period last year.

 


The Port of Barcelona is becoming a 'hub' for Mediterranean commercial routes. The increase in the number of destinations and frequency of services has led to an expansion of the port’s commercial activity and consequent relief for traditionally busy road connections, especially those connecting Catalonia with Italy.

Indeed, the vast majority of goods transportation in Barcelona's Port from January to September corresponded to connections between the Catalan capital and Italian destinations, in particular Genoa, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Savona and Porto Torres.  Nearly 100,000 of the 100,666 UTI, the transport unit which equals a lorry, a platform or a trailer, corresponded to these services.

The rest, 1,570 UTI corresponded to short sea shippings, which are the connections between Barcelona and the North of Africa, mainly Tangier.

More exports than imports

The number of containers, one of Barcelona Port’s strategic cargoes, grew by 4% during the first nine months of the year and totalled 1.4 million TEU (one TEU is equivalent to a 20-foot container). Although growth in imports was slightly higher than for exports, the former grew by 10% and the latter by 9%, the total amount of exports was larger overall. From January to September, Barcelona's Port received 366,083 TEU of imports and exported 480,312 TEU of goods.

Regarding the imports traffic, South Korea registered the highest increase (+77%) followed by China (+31%), the USA (+31%) and Morocco (+22%). Mexico, India and Bangladesh are also growing importers.

Vehicles transportation continued to grow and registered 18% growth in the first nine months of the year, totalling 633,000 vehicles. Although more than half of these were exports, imported vehicles registered the highest growth, 41%.

The success of the cruisers

During the first nine months of the year, Port de Barcelona received 2.9 million passengers, which is 5.5% more than same period last year. Nearly 2 million were cruise liner passengers and 1 million were ferry passengers. Outstanding in this regard was the increase in ferry frequency with the Balearic Islands, which increased by 7%.