Decrease in cargo movement in Spanish seaports by 2.3% observed up until July
In the first seven months of 2025, cargo traffic in Spanish ports showed a decrease of 2.3%, amounting to 323.8 million tons, according to recent data. This downward trend in cargo traffic can be attributed to global economic and political uncertainty and instability, which has affected various sectors, including shipping.
Containerized cargo saw a 2.3% decrease, reaching 112.1 million tons. The Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) also experienced a minor decline, with a 1.5% decrease, registering 10.8 million units by July. However, a notable exception was the import-export TEUs, which continued their upward trend, increasing by 8.7%.
On the other hand, conventional cargo showed a positive growth of 4.4%, reaching 53.4 million tons. Liquid bulk, which includes crude oil and derivatives, experienced a 3.3% decrease, with 103.5 million tons. The strong growth in TEUs in 2024 was due to route changes caused by instability in the Red Sea.
In the transport regime, 15.4 million people traveled, marking a 2.2% increase. This growth was also reflected in the cruise sector, with more than 7.5 million passengers, a 16.5% increase from last year. Ro-ro traffic also saw an increase of 3.1%, reaching 45 million tons.
The increasing insecurity and instability leading to stagnation of global trade and decline in goods traffic in Spanish ports in 2025 mainly stemmed from regional geopolitical conflicts, especially the intensified Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and near the Suez Canal. These events forced shipping companies to avoid the shortest route, increasing transit times and freight costs, thereby reducing freight capacities between Asia and Europe by 15-20% in Q2 2025.
Additional factors contributing to the decline in cargo traffic include broader European industrial downturns, such as declines in steel and chemical production affecting rail transport, and environmental challenges like low water levels in the Rhine reducing shipping capacity. These factors indirectly impacted Spanish port throughput.
Despite the overall decrease in cargo traffic, there was a positive development in terms of gross tonnage, which increased by 0.9%. The number of merchant ships in Spanish ports decreased by 1.4%, with a total of 94,041 units.
Passenger traffic also showed a positive trend, increasing by 6.5% by July compared to the same period in 2024. This growth was primarily driven by the cruise sector, where more than 7.5 million passengers travelled, a significant increase from the previous year.
In conclusion, while cargo traffic in Spanish ports saw a decrease in 2025, there were positive developments in passenger traffic and gross tonnage. The decline in cargo traffic can be attributed to global economic and political uncertainty, regional geopolitical conflicts, and environmental challenges. However, the strong growth in TEUs in 2024 and the continued upward trend in import-export TEUs offer a glimmer of hope for the future of cargo traffic in Spanish ports.
