Maritime transport of goods and passengers 1997-2007

In 2007, the total weight of goods handled in EU-27 maritime ports is estimated at 3.9 billion tonnes (2.6% up compared with 2006 for EU-27 excluding Italy). Of these, nearly two thirds were goods unloaded. Almost all Member States unloaded more than they loaded. At 582 million tonnes, the United Kingdom had the highest share (15%) of goods handled in EU-27 ports, followed by Italy (14% in 2006), the Netherlands (13%) and Spain (11%). In most countries in 2007, liquid bulk goods (which include petroleum products) was the largest type of cargo handled in tonnage terms. At EU-27 level excluding Italy, liquid bulk represents 38% of the total cargo handled in ports, followed by dry bulk (26%) and containers (18%). In 2007, more than 60% of EU-27 seaborne goods transport concerned an extra-EU-27 partner port. The international intra-EU-27 transport represented less than 30% and national transport about 10%. The number of passengers who passed through EU-27 ports in 2007 is estimated at 410 million (2.0% up compared with 2006 for EU-27 excluding Italy). The number of vessel calls at EU-27 main ports (excluding Italian ports) showed an increase of 4.3% compared to 2006. However, in terms of gross tonnage of the vessels, the growth rate was 6.8%. This reflects the increasing size of vessels operating in EU-27 ports.