The Port of Barcelona processed 41.7 million tonnes of goods between January and July 2026, marking a 2% increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to data published by the port authority.
All cargo segments contributed to the growth. Solid bulk traffic rose by 5.3%, reaching 2.3 million tonnes, driven by higher volumes of cement, clinker, and potash. Liquid bulk increased by 2.7%, with 9.9 million tonnes moved.
Vehicle Imports Drive Growth
Automobile traffic reached 444,029 units, up 4.6% year-on-year. Imports surged by 25.5%, with electric and hybrid vehicles accounting for 17.7% of total car movements, a 48.1% increase.
The rise in car imports, particularly electric and hybrid models, has been a key driver of overall cargo growth at the port.
A €75 million investment by Japanese logistics firm NYK, announced in April 2026, aims to expand vehicle handling capacity by nearly 180,000 units through a new terminal dedicated mainly to imports.
Container Traffic Mixed
Container traffic totalled 2.2 million TEUs, a 1.5% increase. Full import containers rose 6.1%, and full transit containers increased by 5.8%. However, full export containers fell by 10%.
Passenger Numbers Up
Passenger movements reached 3.2 million, a 5.3% increase from 2025. Cruise activity has exceeded 2025’s record levels, supported by expanded itineraries and new vessel deployments.
Reported by diaricatalunya.cat, portdebarcelona.cat, dataportuaria.com, Albert Cadanet Vilà, mgn.com, Portnews, El Estrecho Digital, europapress.es, lavanguardia.com, redaccion, La Vanguardia Barcelona.
