16% growth in containerised cargo traffic consolidates its place in the European top 15
For the third consecutive year, the Port of Sines has maintained its 14th position in the Top 15 of the European Union's main container ports in 2024, according to PortEconomics.
In line with the study published by Theo Notteboom, a reference in the maritime-port market, Sines consolidated its position with a total of 1,9 million TEU handled.
In 2024, the Port of Sines registered a growth of 16% over 2023, being thus the third European port with the biggest increase in container handling volumes. It should also be underlined that, besides being the best year ever in terms of TEU handled, approaching the 2M TEU, in 2024 the Container Terminal also enhanced its connectivity with five new regular services, thus improving the logistic solution offered by Sines to iberian importers and exporters.
At a global level, the 15 main ports in the European Union handled a total of 76,8 million TEU in 2024, which represents an increase of 5,9% over 2023, thus recovering from the previous year's performance.
In what concerns the ranking’s top three ports, Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges and Hamburg, registered, all together, a 4,4% increase in the volume of containers handled after a 7% decrease in 2023, corresponding to a total of 35,1 million TEU.
Also noteworthy is the growth of Ibero-Atlantics ports, with an increase of 12,2% and 18,5% in TEU handling in 2024, in the ports of Valencia and Barcelona respectively. On the other hand, the port of Algeciras recorded a 0,6% drop, impacted by the crisis in Red Sea and changes in the maritime transport network.
Continuing the expansion process, the Port of Sines Container Terminal has been implementing important improvements to its infrastructure, as part of PSA Sines' investments. This expansion project aims at increasing the terminal's annual container handling capacity from 2,7 million TEU to 4,2 million TEU, reinforcing the Port of Sines positioning as one of the main international logistic hubs.