Cargo traffic through Port of Barcelona up 20% before April

• Container traffic totaled more than 864,500 TEU, up 26%
• Over the first 4 months of the year, more than 763,000 travelers passed through the port (+5%)

The total cargo traffic through the Port of Barcelona increased 20% between January and April this year compared to the same period in 2016. This was driven by containers, bulk liquids and what is known as the motorways of the sea. In this regard, over the first 4 months of the year, the Port of Barcelona saw more than 864,500 TEU (20-foot container unit) in container traffic. This is up 26% year on year.

In this sense, transshipment containers (those offloaded to be reloaded and continue on to their final destination) saw the greatest growth (+90%) for a total of 238,279 TEU. By country, there was a noteworthy increase in exports to a wide range of countries like China (+21%), the United Arab Emirates (+48%), the United States (+6%), Japan (+24%) and South Korea (+38%). For imports, remarkable dynamism was seen in markets like India (+11%), Bangladesh (+17%) and Mexico (+17%).

Regarding cargo transported via the motorways of the sea, the Port of Barcelona has channeled more than 47,000 UTI (Unit of Intermodal Transport – equivalent to a truck, platform or trailer) between the Catalan capital and destinations in Italy and northern Africa, up 8%.

In terms of passenger movement, it must be noted that more than 763,000 passengers traveled through the Port of Barcelona over the first 4 months of the year (+5%). The most noteworthy growth was in the regular ferry lines, where the number of passengers traveling to or from the Balearic Islands increased 17%, while the number of travelers heading to Italy was up 20%.

[05/22/2017]