The Port of Barcelona marks new record
Container traffic has increased 30.2% during July and passenger numbers in 2017 exceeds 2 million
The Port of Barcelona continues breaking records. After the outstanding growth in traffic during the first semester of the year, July closed with an all-time high. 5.6 million tons were moved during this month, which represents a 23% increase with respect to the same period last year. With respect to the movement of containers, this July the figure reached 288,130 20-foot containers, which means an increase of 30.2% with respect to the same month in 2016.
In terms of the whole year, the Port of Barcelona registered a total movement of 34.4 million tons in seven months, 19% more than during the same period last year. The movement of containers has been the segment of activity with the strongest growth, with a total of 1.6 million 20-foot containers, a figure that represents an increase of 28%. The most outstanding increase, however, was registered in transfer containers —those that are unloaded for embarking towards their final destination—and which increased 114.7% during this period.
Bulk liquids also contributed to the good numbers. In this sense, the Port of Barcelona conveyed a total of 7.9 million tons of products (+11,7%), especially hydrocarbons, which grew 13.6%. The liquefied natural gas (+32,4%) and fuel (+56,2%) are the products that experienced the most growth.
Growth of rolled cargo
The rolled cargo (the rolled load that embarks on board platforms, trucks or trailers) also registered very positive results during the seven first months of the year. Up to the month of July the Port of Barcelona has registered a total of 237,954 units of intermodal transport (UTI), with an increase of 6.3%. This section includes the traffic rolled with the Balearic Islands (151,846 UTI, +6%) and the merchandise transported by the sea highways or services of short sea shipping (SSS) with Italy and North Africa, with a growth of 6.9%.
Travellers
On the other hand, up to the month of July the Port of Barcelona has exceeded two million passengers (2.1 million people), a figure that indicates an increase of 2.6%. Of these, 758,155 (+11,3%) were users of ferries, going to the Balearic Islands as well as to Italy (Civitavecchia, Genoa, Savona, Livorno and Oporto Towers) and North Africa (Tangiers, Nador, Tunis and Mostaganem). The rest is comprised of cruise passengers (1,353,524 persons, -1,7%), who have travelled on board one of the 394 cruisers that the Port received up to July.