The Port activities sector plays a crucial role in the European economy. Europe's ports are vital gateways, linking its transport corridors to the rest of the world. 74% of goods entering or leaving Europe go by sea, and Europe boasts some of the finest port facilities in the world. In 2024, 400 million passengers (excluding cruise passengers) embarked and disembarked in European ports, a 5.9% increase compared to 2023[1]. Ports play an equally important role to support the exchange of goods within the internal market and in linking peripheral and island areas with the mainland of Europe. Ports are not only great for moving goods around, they also constitute energy hubs for conventional and renewable energies[2]. The EU port system is embedded within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), whose maritime pillar comprises a wide network of strategically located ports. Among these, a subset is identified as ‘core ports’, which play a central role in both cargo transit and the deployment of clean infrastructure, such as onshore power supply (OPS) systems and alternative fuel distribution, reinforcing Europe’s commitment to sustainable transport and energy transition.
For the purpose of the analysis, the port activities sector includes the following sub-sectors:
- Cargo and warehousing includes operation of storage and warehousing facilities in ports and activities supporting the maritime transport of passengers or freight in harbours, such as loading and unloading of goods and luggage, cargo handling, and related support activities related to handling freight before, after or between transport segments.
- Port and water projects includes construction and reconstruction of waterways, harbour basins, rivers, marinas, and related hydromechanical structures (e.g. locks, lifts, sluices, slipways), dredging of harbours and waterways. It also includes operation of terminal facilities (e.g. harbours, piers, locks, etc.), navigation, pilotage, tug and berthing activities, bunkering and reception of port waste. It also includes lighterage, salvage activities, lighthouse activities, marine cargo surveying activities. waterway information services, winter storage of ships and boats, and liquefaction and regasification of natural gas for the purpose of water transport.
Socio-economic performance of the Port activities sector
The estimation of the socio-economic performance of the Port activities sector is primarily based on Structural Business Statistics (SBS) data compiled by Eurostat for the activities listed in the following table:
More methodological details are available on the EU Blue Economy Observatory.
Size of the EU Port activities sector in 2021
Ports are vibrant and diverse marketplaces, encompassing a broad range of industries and services located within ports or in proximity, which comprise a complex network of support activities, logistics, supply of essential services to ships, management of physical and technical infrastructure, and provision of specialized services. This includes for example:
- Cargo Handling and Storage (i.e. loading, unloading, and storage of goods, such as containers, bulk cargo, and project cargo; freight forwarding; logistics management);
- Passenger and Cruise Services (i.e. handling of seaborne passenger traffic, instrumental to coastal tourism);
- Bunkering and Fuelling (i.e. supply of electricity, fuel and other essential services to ships, such as water, provisions, and waste management);
- Port Infrastructure (i.e. physical, technical, safety, organizational structures such as buildings, equipment, facilities and systems required in a wide range of port activities and related services. Includes docking infrastructure, maintenance infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, navigation and safety infrastructure, security and surveillance infrastructure, energy and utilities infrastructure, ICT infrastructure, etc.);
- Terminal Operations (i.e. management and operation of terminals, such as container terminals, bulk terminals, ro-ro terminals, cruise and ferry terminals, offshore terminals);
- Other Port Services (e.g. customs brokerage, border control, cybersecurity, migration services, etc.).
Source: Eurostat (SBS) and includes own calculations
Overall, the sector’s turnover has been growing steadily since 2011, except for 2018 and 2020. The large rebound registered in 2021-2022 shows that the sector has fully recovered from the impacts caused by COVID-19. In 2022, the port activities sector accounted for 8.5% of the jobs, 13% of the GVA and 11.5% of the profits in the EU Blue Economy.
Results by sub-sector and Member State
Germany had the highest employment and GVA in the port activities sector, representing more than one fifth of the sectoral workforce and GVA (21%) in 2023. Another 42.7% of the sector’s workforce was employed in Poland, France, the Netherlands and Italy (in this order). After Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain and Italy (in this order) generated nearly half (49.4%) of the sector’s GVA (Figure 2).
Source: Eurostat (SBS) and includes own calculations
Employment: as indicated, the port activities sector directly employed more than 410 000 persons in 2023. It is estimated that the total number of people employed in EU ports under different contracts, including seasonal or part-time, is approximately 1.5 million. This includes both direct and indirect employment in various port-related activities across the 22 maritime Member States[3]. 60% of the workforce was employed in the Cargo and warehousing subsector, the vast majority of which (77%) in warehousing and storage activities. More than one fourth of the sector’s workforce (27%) was employed in service activities incidental to water transportation, and the remaining 13% in construction of water projects.
Gross value added: In 2023, the port activities sector generated the largest GVA on record since 2009, almost equally shared between the Cargo and warehousing (48%) and Port and water projects (52%) subsectors. Service activities incidental to water transportation generated more than EUR 13 billion GVA (38%), Warehousing and storage activities generated EUR 12 billion GVA (37%), while Cargo handling and Construction of water projects generated approximately EUR 8 billion GVA in total (i.e. 13% each).
Over the past few years, ports have faced significant challenges, including increasing logistical and operational pressures, regulatory requirements, decarbonisation policies, digitalisation and the need to strengthen security against threats from state and non-state actors, while dealing with growing geopolitical tensions, cyber threats and increasing global competition. To address these challenges, the European Commission recently adopted the EU Ports Strategy, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience, security and sustainability of Europe’s ports.
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The Strategy puts forward actions focused on five priorities to address some of the most relevant developments include:
- Disparities in port performance competitiveness, innovation and digitalisation
Disparities in port performance and competitiveness remain a defining feature of the European port system. EU ports handle a significant proportion of the total port calls made each year around the world. In 2022, more than 12 million port calls took place globally, with almost 3 million (approximately 23%) located in EU and European Economic Area ports[5]. In 2023, the main EU ports registered 2.2 million calls from cargo and passenger vessels, representing a 1.5% rise from the prior year.
According to Eurostat, a total of 417.8 million passengers embarked and disembarked in EU ports in 2024, corresponding to a 6.2 % increase on previous period , with 10 Member States handling more than 14 million passengers each, totaling 94,1% of all EU seaborne passenger transport. Italy's ports led the way with 93,5 million passengers (22,4% of the EU's total), followed by Greece with 81.1 million (19.4 %) and Denmark with 41.3 million (nearly 10%). The ports of Messina, Reggio di Calabria and Napoli (all in Italy) were the busiest, with 11.3 million, 11.2 million passengers and 10.9 million passengers respectively (Figure 3)[6].
Between 2019 and 2024, half of the top 10 countries recorded increases in the number of passengers. Greece gained 7.1 million passengers (+9.7%), Italy 7.0 million (+8.0%) and Malta 2.0 million (+14.9%). In contrast, the largest declines were recorded in Sweden (-5.7 million; -18.7%), Finland (-4.8 million; -25.1%) and Germany (-3.1 million; -9.8%) [7].
As regards seaborne freight, the EU ports handled a total of 3.4 billion tonnes (total gross weight) in 2024, the same freight volume as in 2023 (Figure 4). Netherlands retained its position as the leading EU country for maritime freight transport, with the port of Rotterdam, handling 397 million tonnes (Mt) of freight in 2024 . Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium followed with 244 Mt, ahead of Hamburg in Germany with 97 Mt. (Figure 5). Among the top 10 EU ports, 4 reported an increase in tonnage of freight handled in 2024 compared with the previous year, Valencia (+3.6%) and Algeciras (+2.6%) in Spain had the biggest increases. At the other end, Constanţa in Romania (-14.3%) and Gdańsk in Poland (-11.0%) reported the biggest declines [8].
In recent years, supply chain disruptions have highlighted the importance of expanding capacity, optimizing port call processes and accelerating the uptake of innovative technologies. Digitalisation plays a key role in enhancing port efficiency and competitiveness, with ports increasingly deploying smart port technologies, automated terminals and artificial intelligence-based traffic management systems [9]. Furthermore, to improve coherence and coordination between ports, the Commission will develop criteria and guiding principles for EU funding and investments in third-country ports [10] .
Decarbonisation, advance energy transition, sustainability and clean industries
As part of the transition towards a low-emission European port system, the decarbonisation of port operations and maritime transport has become a central policy priority. Ports are increasingly deploying renewable energy solutions and developing infrastructure for alternative fuels.
Onshore Power Supply (OPS) has become a strategic infrastructure element for the decarbonisation of berth operations. This technology allows ships to connect to the land-based electricity grid while at berth, eliminating the need for auxiliary diesel generators and significantly reducing local emissions of CO₂, NOₓ, SOₓ, and particulate matter. Several EU ports have already implemented OPS infrastructure, and many others are currently planning installations, particularly in major cruise and container ports.
Currently, 71 of the 179 TEN-T core ports in EU Member States are equipped with OPS (461 berths), while 31 of the 371 ports in the TEN-T comprehensive network have shore-side electricity installed (78 berths) (Figure 6 & 7). In the cruise sector, 11 European ports had at least one OPS-enabled berth. Furthermore, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), 30% of cruise ships are plug-ready, representing 40% of sector capacity. By 2028, CLIA anticipates that around 75% of the cruise fleet capacity will have this capability [12].
The deployment of OPS infrastructure is expected to accelerate in the coming years as a result of EU regulatory initiatives such as the FuelEU Maritime Regulation and the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), which require major ports in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) to provide shore-side electricity for certain vessel categories by 2030 [13].
Protecting and Securing ports and competitiveness
In recent years, the growing complexity of port operations and the increasing reliance on digital infrastructure have underscored the need for stronger cybersecurity measures, enhanced surveillance, improved digital infrastructure[14] and coordinated response protocols[15] to enhance overall resilience. Ports are critical infrastructures for trade, energy supply and military mobility, making them potential targets for organised crime, cyberattacks and geopolitical risks [16].
Initiatives such as the European Ports Alliance aims to bring together all relevant stakeholders to develop solutions to protect ports and strengthen security by tackling drug trafficking and organised crime [17]. Through this public-private partnership, support is provided to port authorities and shipping companies, to help protect logistics, information, staff, and operational processes in ports.
Ports are also increasingly recognised as strategic infrastructures supporting defence and military mobility across the EU and partner countries. The EU Maritime Security Strategy comprises various actions aimed strengthening the resilience and protection of ports, including addressing risks associated with corruption and illicit activities. The EU , in a Joint White Paper, identifies seaports as important facilitators of military mobility across the EU and partner countries, as part of boosting the EU’s defence capabilities[19]. Therefore, and due to the increasing geopolitical tensions, they have raised concerns about foreign influence over strategic port infrastructure. As part of the EU Ports Strategy, the Commission will also develop criteria and guidance on foreign ownership and control for Member States in order to safeguard Europe’s economic security and resilience [20].
Access to finance and infrastructural investments
Significant investments have been made in upgrading and expanding port infrastructure to accommodate larger vessels and handle increased cargo volumes. This includes the construction of new terminals, the deepening and widening of navigation channels, and the improvement of intermodal connectivity to facilitate the efficient movement of goods.
EU funding instruments, such as Connecting Europe Facility and other European financing mechanisms, play an important role in supporting the development of strategic infrastructure projects across the European port network. In recent years, initiatives such as RePowerEU, have revitalized dormant regasification projects and initiated new infrastructure endeavors, ranging from the expansion of existing onshore infrastructure to capacity upgrades or the deployment of offshore Floating Storage and Regasification Units, accelerating investments in energy infrastructure [21].
These developments highlight the growing importance of ports not only as logistics gateways but also as key actors in the European energy transition and industrial hubs [22]. Ports have great potential to house the development of large-scale electricity storage, which will be needed for balancing fluctuating supply and demand, as well as to expand infrastructure for alternative fuels such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), hydrogen, methanol and ammonia. LNG has experienced significant growth in Europe as a transition fuel to meet the ambitious EU decarbonisation goals. A parallel improvement of associated infrastructure is required, including the expansion of terminals, supply stations, and bunkering and trans-shipment services. Currently, there are 67 ports in Europe offering LNG bunkering services, with Spain and France taking the lead (Figure 8 [23] .
Thanks to recent investments – with co-financing from the RePower EU initiative and the Connecting Europe Facility – the EU’s LNG import capacity grew by 70 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2023-2024, and an additional 60 bcm is expected to become available between 2025-2030. EU is the largest LNG importer in the world. In 2024, the EU imported over 100 bcm. The largest LNG importers in the EU are France, Spain, Netherlands, Italy and Belgium.
Recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have exposed world’s acute vulnerability to disruptions in global energy supply chains. Conflict in the region has led to temporary interruptions and heightened volatility in LNG markets, warranting the need to continue monitoring the situation and reassess security of supply in the event of prolonged disruptions [25].
It should be noted that, although LNG combustion produces reduced CO2, sulphur, and nitrogen oxide emissions compared to other fossil fuels like oil or coal, it emits more methane (CH4) – thereby potentially causing comparatively higher climate warming effects.
Social Cohesion, Skills & Quality Jobs
The EU Ports Strategy, adopted by the European Commission, places strong emphasis on social cohesion, the development of skills, and the creation of quality jobs as fundamental pillars for the future of the European port sector as part of its comprehensive framework to strengthen competitiveness, resilience and sustainability. It recognises the important role of small and medium‑sized ports in supporting territorial cohesion, particularly for islands, coastal and outermost regions[27].
The development of a skilled next-generation workforce across all blue economy sectors, including ports, is particularly relevant in this context. Through actions under the Blue Generational Renewal Strategy [28] and through the reinforced Pact for Skills, announced in the Union of Skills, the Commission encourages the social partners, ports and other stakeholders, including relevant training centers, to establish a dedicated skills partnership for the ports sector to anticipate skills needs, address shortages, promote upskilling and reskilling initiatives and inclusive access to quality jobs, in particular for women and young people.
Additionally, the Commission will prepare guidance on the application of maritime safety legislation to port workers, as well as on the safe handling of alternative fuels in ports, reflecting its commitment to safety and quality jobs. This is especially important given that port activities are associated with largest rates of accidents at work (Borriello et al. 2025). These measures together aim to ensure that the evolution of EU ports supports not only infrastructure and competitiveness but also social cohesion, workforce development and high‑quality employment opportunities across the EU.