# Global container port efficiency – Oct 2026 > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/2025-global-container-port-efficiency-rankings > Updated: 2026-08-05T18:12:37.000Z. Sources: 40. Developments: 14. First‑half‑2026 data continue to show a mixed picture across the world’s major terminals. Brazil’s Suape complex posted a 25.6 % rise to 13.7 Mt, driven by liquid bulk, while the Bahia region’s Salvador and Aratu‑Candeias terminals recorded double‑digit gains. Panama Canal tonnage grew 7.2 % to 389.96 Mt and transit revenues rose 17 %. European ports saw modest improvements: Spain’s Tarragona rose 6.5 % to 15.1 Mt, Huelva’s liquid bulk increased 2.15 %, and Santander reported a 1.3 % cargo lift to 3.5 Mt with container traffic up 7 % and ongoing quay expansions. Algeciras handled 41.3 Mt (May +3.1 %) and was ranked the most efficient container hub in Europe (12th worldwide) in the CPPI 2025. The index also highlighted Posorja as the most efficient terminal in Latin America and Tanger Med as Africa’s top performer. In the Americas, Mexico’s Lázaro Cárdenas logged a 21 % tonnage jump to 13.0 Mt and a 11 % rise in TEU throughput; Chile’s Iquique posted a 4.7 % increase in May. Colombia’s Barranquilla and Tumaco ports together added 6.7 Mt and 0.07 Mt respectively, spurred by dredging and infrastructure upgrades. African traffic surged, with Casablanca handling 17 Mt (+7 %) and Congo Terminal on track for 1.3 Mt EVP. The Drewry World Container Index slipped 4 % to US$4,374 as carriers added blank sailings. Investment activity remained strong: Portonave announced a R$2 bn capacity expansion, Rotterdam reported €144.8 m net result and €126 m in sustainability spending, and Marseille‑Fos advanced a €95 m container‑zone project. Overall, global cargo volumes rose modestly while efficiency gaps persisted between regions, prompting continued focus on automation, logistics integration and green initiatives. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-05: South American ports show mixed cargo trends in 2026 Chile's Tarapacá ports saw an 8.2% cargo drop in June 2026, while Brazil's major ports posted double‑digit growth in the first half of the year. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-american-ports-show-mixed-cargo-trends-in-2026 ### 2026-07-28: Brazil's Bahia and Santana ports post record cargo volumes in first half of 2026 Brazil's Bahia ports grew 22.5% YoY in the first half of 2026, setting volume records, while Santana port logged a new soy shipment record of 53,000 tonnes, underscoring expanding trade activity. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazils-bahia-and-santana-ports-post-record-cargo-volumes-in-first-half-of-2026 ### 2026-07-24: Rotterdam Port cargo volume up 0.4% in first half of 2026 Rotterdam Port handled 212 Mt of cargo in H1 2026, up 0.4 %; dry bulk and liquid bulk rose, containers fell. CEO cites Gulf war impacts, while sustainability projects include shore power and ethanol‑methanol fu 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rotterdam-port-cargo-volume-up-04-in-first-half-of-2026 ### 2026-07-22: Global port cargo volumes rise in first half 2026 amid mixed trends First‑half 2026 sees port cargo up at Brazil’s Suape and Spain’s Tarragona, Panama Canal tonnage up 7.2%, while container rates fall 4% and Vigo’s container volumes stay strong. 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spanish-ports-record-cargo-traffic-gains-in-first-half-of-2026 ### 2026-07-16: Tumaco Port drives growth in Colombia's Pacific region Tumaco Port posted strong first‑half cargo growth, prompting government plans for infrastructure upgrades to boost the Pacific region’s economy and trade. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tumaco-port-drives-growth-in-colombias-pacific-region ### 2026-07-14: Marseille-Fos port sees 13% rise in container traffic despite overall volume drop Marseille‑Fos port’s overall cargo fell 3 % to 36.2 Mt, but container volumes jumped 13 % to 823 k EVP, driven by China trade and transshipment, amid €95 M of ongoing investments. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/marseille-fos-port-sees-13-rise-in-container-traffic-despite-overall-volume-drop ### 2026-07-12: Santander Port Handles 3.5 Million Tonnes of Cargo in First Half of 2026 Santander Port moved 3.5 M tonnes of cargo in early 2026, up 1.3%, with growth in containers, cars and agro‑food bulk; expansion projects aim for an eight‑million‑tonne goal. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santander-port-handles-35-million-tonnes-of-cargo-in-first-half-of-2026 ### 2026-07-08: African ports report record traffic growth in first half of 2026 Congo Terminal processed ~700,000 EVP and aims for 2.5 M capacity by 2027; Casablanca handled 17 M tonnes, up 7 %, with container traffic up 5 % in H1 2026. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/african-ports-report-record-traffic-growth-in-first-half-of-2026 ### 2026-07-08: Colombian ports record cargo growth in first half of 2026 In the first half of 2026, Colombia’s Barranquilla port handled 6.7 million tonnes of cargo, a 5% rise, while Tumaco saw 21 ships and over 70 000 tonnes of hydrocarbon exports, boosting regional trade and jobs. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-ports-record-cargo-growth-in-first-half-of-2026 ### 2026-06-29: Spain's Mercamálaga and ports record stable or growing commodity volumes in early 2026 Mercamálaga processed over 140,000 tonnes in H1 2026, matching last year, while Spanish ports handled 49.2 million tonnes in May, up 3.15 % YoY. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spains-mercamlaga-and-ports-record-stable-or-growing-commodity-volumes-in-early-2026 ### 2026-06-24: Mexico’s Lázaro Cárdenas and Chile’s Iquique Ports Log Significant Cargo Gains in 2026 Mexico’s Lázaro Cárdenas port moved 13 million tonnes Jan‑May 2026 (+21%), while Chile’s Iquique port handled 324 k tonnes in May (+4.7%) and processed 81 k tonnes of Bolivian cargo. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexicos-lzaro-crdenas-and-chiles-iquique-ports-log-significant-cargo-gains-in-2026 ### 2026-06-19: Algeciras port moves 41 million tonnes and ranked Europe’s most efficient hub Algeciras port handled 41 million tonnes, earned Europe’s top efficiency rating, and launched a new blue‑economy innovation cluster. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/algeciras-port-moves-41-million-tonnes-and-ranked-europes-most-efficient-hub ### 2026-06-17: Tanger Med tops global port efficiency ranking as African ports lag Tanger Med ranks sixth worldwide and tops Africa in the World Bank’s CPPI 2025, while Casablanca, Agadir, Radès and others fall far behind in port efficiency. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tanger-med-tops-global-port-efficiency-ranking-as-african-ports-lag ### 2026-06-11: Algeciras and Posorja climb in 2025 global container port efficiency rankings Algeciras rose to 12th globally in the 2025 Container Port Performance Index, while Ecuador's Posorja topped Latin America with a 104‑point score. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/algeciras-and-posorja-climb-in-2025-global-container-port-efficiency-rankings --- Cite as: Global container port efficiency – Oct 2026. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/2025-global-container-port-efficiency-rankings