Theo Notteboom publishes the European Union ranking with Sines in the European Top 15.
In the first half of 2023, the Port of Sines consolidated its position as the 14th largest European container port, remaining in the Top 15 of the largest container ports in the European Union, according to PortEconomics, where the renowned Theo Notteboom dedicates an analysis to the European maritime-port market.
According to the specialist's analysis, the Portuguese port, which handled 1.66 million TEU in 2022, recorded a decrease of 4% in the first half of 2023 over the first half of 2022. This decrease was less penalizing than the 9% drop recorded at the end of 2022 compared to the same period last year.
In a period of economic contraction, only two ports experienced growth rates, Piraeus and Gioia Tauro.
The Port of Rotterdam experienced a loss of 8.1% during the first half of 2023 compared to the previous year. Additionally, Antwerp-Bruges experienced a decline of 5.2%, while Hamburg experienced a loss of 11.7%. German ports were among the most penalized in the first half of the year, with Bremerhaven, 7th in this ranking, recording a decline of 15%.
In Spain, the outcome also reflects a decline, with Algeciras getting the best performance of the Spanish Ports, maintaining volumes almost similar to those of 2022 and falling just 0.5%. Valencia lost 10.8%, and Barcelona fell 10.9%.
Ports in France recorded even greater losses in cargo volume, with Haropa Port (Le Havre, Rouen and Paris) dropping one position as a result of the -15.8% result and Marseille also falling 15%.
It is important to note that the expansion works at the Port of Sines container terminal, Terminal XXI, are underway at a good pace, and will endow the infrastructure a total capacity of 4.1M TEU.