The sea ports of the EU handled a total of 3.4 billion tonnes of freight in 2023, a decrease compared to 2022 but an increase compared to 2013, according to data released by Eurostat, the statistical service of the European Union. The same data show that Cyprus was one out of a few countries where there was a slight increase in volume in 2023 compared to 2022.

More specifically, in 2023 the volume of freight in the EU (total gross weight) decreased by 3.9% compared with 2022 (3.5 billion tonnes) and increased by 5.0% compared with 2013 (3.2 billion tonnes).

The largest share of goods handled by main EU ports in 2023, 21.0%, consisted of coal and lignite, crude petroleum and natural gas. This was followed by coke and petroleum products, which accounted for 16.1% of the total volume. Metal ores and other mining and quarrying products made up 7.2%, products of agriculture, hunting, forestry and fisheries added up to 6.8%, and chemicals, rubber, plastics and nuclear fuel collectively accounted for 6.4%. Food products, beverages, and tobacco represented 4.7% of the total goods handled by EU ports.

In Cyprus, the largest share consisted of coke and petroleum products (42.5%), followed by non metallic mineral products (9.2%), products of agriculture and relevant sectors (6.6%), basic metals and fabricated metal products except equipment (3.9%), metal ores and other mining and quarrying products (3.4%) and secondary raw materials, municipal wastes and other wastes (2.7%).

The Netherlands handled 545 million tonnes of freight in 2023, maintaining its position as the top maritime freight transport country in the EU. Italy followed with 501 million tonnes, ahead of Spain with 472 million tonnes. All 3 of the top countries recorded decreases in freight handled compared with 2022, with declines of 7.6%, 1.7% and 3.7%, respectively.

Among the 22 EU countries with available data, 17 recorded decreases in the volume of freight handled in 2023 compared with 2022. The largest relative drops were recorded in Estonia (-31.0%), Latvia (-21.5%) and Finland (-9.0%). Cyprus was one of the countries where there was an increase, by 6.2%.