European port traffic shows mixed growth across Spain and Germany

Various European ports report divergent maritime traffic trends for 2026. The ports managed by the Autoridad Portuaria de Las Palmas moved over 21 million tons through July, driven by a 9.61% increase in cruise passengers and a 4.08% rise in container movement (TEUs).

In Spain, PortCastelló saw an 8.9% increase in total goods traffic, significantly outperforming the national average of 0.4%. This growth was led by a 53.6% surge in general cargo. Conversely, the Port of Gijón (El Musel) experienced a 27.8% decline in traffic, primarily due to reduced mineral unloading following equipment issues at ArcelorMittal. Additionally, maritime connections between Huelva and the Canary Islands saw an 8.09% drop in passengers.

In Germany, the ports of Bremen and Bremerhaven reported a 5.9% increase in cargo volume during the first half of 2026, totaling 34.5 million tons. This included a 5.7% rise in container movement and a 2.4% increase in vehicle transport.