Italy's ports record surge in cruise passengers and solid cargo volumes

According to the first edition of the Maritime Tourism report by Risposte Turismo, Italian ports are projected to handle more than 100 million passenger movements in 2025, including about 15 million cruise passengers—roughly 35 % of the Mediterranean's cruise traffic—making Italy the world’s second‑largest cruise‑handling nation after the United States and ahead of Spain. Over 500 coastal and inland municipalities benefit from the flows, underscoring the sector’s broad economic impact.

The Italian Maritime Economy report from SRM shows that Ravenna topped Italian ports in 2025 with 11.6 million tonnes of solid bulk cargo, accounting for more than one‑fifth of the nation’s total 53 million tonnes. The port leads in minerals, foodstuffs and grains, and Italy’s overall cargo handling reached a record 28.1 million tonnes in 2025, with a 5.3 % rise in the first five months of 2026. Port authority president Francesco Benevolo highlighted plans to expand container capacity and a new multi‑purpose terminal.