The Port of Barcelona has closed 2021 by setting a record of 3.5 million TEU, which translates to an increase of 19.3% compared to the previous year, as well a 6.2% growth over the pre-pandemic year 2019.
The Spanish port also reported a double-digit growth of 11.8% year-on-year in total traffic, with 66.4 million tonnes.
José Alberto Carbonell, general manager of the Port of Barcelona, stressed that “relative to 2019, full container traffic climbed 9%, with gains in both exports and imports of 10% and 5% respectively, and goods in transit, which were up 14%.”
The Port of Barcelona’s rail traffic also increased by 18.4% over 2020, while 318,971 containers were handled by train, putting the market share of this mode of transport at a record-setting of 15.5%.
Rail traffic represents an annual saving of 46,315 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is equivalent to taking 197,928 trucks off the road, according to the port.
The countries that were the most dynamic in their exchanges with the Port of Barcelona in terms of containerised exports, were China, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria and Saudi Arabia.
As for imports, the main origin markets for goods arriving at the port were China, Turkey, India, the United States and South Korea.
During 2021, the Spanish port achieved a turnover of US$171.4 million (€151 million), which reflects a rise of 9% compared to the previous year.
Damià Calvet, president of the Port of Barcelona, highlighted that the upturn in traffic outpaces the jump in turnover because the latter includes the port’s economic aid package to promote economic recovery and mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
Furthermore, the port’s cash flow in 2021 totalled US$94 million (€83 million), which is a 25% growth year-on-year, “marking a return to normal levels and serving as a sign of the port’s financial strength and investment potential,” according to Calvet.
