The report confirms a change in growth patterns after strong recovery in 2024, which had followed a difficult year in 2023. Gdansk, Gioia Tauro and Bremerhaven show double-digit growth 

PortEconomics member Theo Notteboom has published a new analysis covering the performance of the top 15 EU container ports during the first nine months of 2025. The report confirms a change in growth patterns after strong recovery in 2024, which had followed a difficult year in 2023. Gdansk, Gioia Tauro and Bremerhaven show double-digit growth .Following a strong recovery in 2024 after a challenging 2023, 

Only three ports achieved double-digit growth:

Only three ports achieved double-digit growth: Gdansk leads with an impressive 21.7% increase, largely driven by the launch of its newest terminal at the Baltic Hub. Gioia Tauro continues its upward trajectory, fueled by MSC’s sustained investment and operations. Bremerhaven tops 10% growth and is expected to move from the seventh place in 2024 to the fifth place in the ranking by the end of the year.

Hamburg stands out among the leading trio

Hamburg stands out among the leading trio, posting a robust 8.4% year-on-year growth, well ahead of Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges. Hamburg’s resurgence follows years of modest performance and is attributed to increased port calls linked to new alliance structures (notably Gemini) and the entry of foreign terminal operators. The figures suggest a   b revival as also Wilhelmshaven (handled its 1 millionth TEU of the year on 18 September 2025) and Bremerhaven experienced healthy growth.

In Southern Europe, Spanish ports struggled to maintain their exceptional 2024 momentum, which had been boosted by vessel rerouting due to the Red Sea crisis.

Related : The Port of Hamburg continues on its growth path

Top 10 Ports in Europe - 2025 Updated List

List of 10 Major Ports in Europe - European Ports 2025

Many important port/container hubs in the European region are considered key points for the global trade and supply chain. Container transportation is gaining more and more importance for European trade. Ports are developing increasingly daily, and concepts such as technological developments and sustainability come to the fore. We will conduct a detailed review of the Top 10 European Ports 2025 listed above.

Let’s dive into the European Ports 2025!

1- Port of Rotterdam

The Port of Rotterdam has again secured its position as the top European container port for another year, with nearly 14 million TEU’s recorded in 2025 H1. Also, the overall cargo volume at this Dutch port remained stable throughout the previous year, totaling around 468 million metric tonnes.

• from PORT OF ROTTERDAM to PORT OF CASABLANCA

• from PORT OF ROTTERDAM to PORT OF NEW YORK

• from PORT OF ROTTERDAM to PORT OF SANTOS

2- Port of Antwerp

The Antwerp Port handled 13 million TEU’s in container traffic in the second position in 2025 H1. It’s worth highlighting that the merger of the two Belgian ports, Antwerp and Zeebrugge, was completed in April 2022, leading to the official commencement of operations at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

• from PORT OF ANTWERP to PORT OF TOKYO

• from PORT OF ANTWERP to PORT OF JEBEL ALI

• from PORT OF ANTWERP to PORT OF MUNDRA

3- Port of Hamburg

Hamburg Port, located in Hamburg, Germany. Referred to as Germany’s “Gateway to the World,” it is the country’s largest seaport in terms of volume. In 2025 H1, the Port of Hamburg managed 8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

• from PORT OF HAMBURG to PORT OF CAPE TOWN

• from PORT OF HAMBURG to PORT OF NEW YORK

• from PORT OF HAMBURG to PORT OF ASHDOD

4- Port of Valencia

Valencia Port stands as an essential region among Mediterranean ports. With over 15,000 employees, it is a bustling hub for more than 7,500 naval vessels annually. The port’s broad reach extends its economic impact over a wide area spanning 350 kilometers. It reached 5 Million TEU levels in the 2025 H1 period.

• from PORT OF VALENCIA to PORT OF LONG BEACH

• from PORT OF VALENCIA to PORT OF TOKYO

• from PORT OF VALENCIA to PORT OF ORAN

5- Port of Piraeus

This port is located near Athens, the capital of Greece; the Port of Piraeus proudly holds the title of the largest port in Greece. In particular, the Chinese conglomerate COSCO has a significant portion of the property. The port includes three terminals with a notable over 8 million TEU capacity. It is around 5 Million TEU in the H1 period of 2025. It is one of the rare ports that show an increase in the decreasing European trade volume.

• from PORT OF PIRAEUS to PORT OF HAMBURG

• from PORT OF PIRAEUS to PORT OF KARACHI

• from PORT OF PIRAEUS to PORT OF MELBOURNE

Related : Piraeus Port Authority S.A. at the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE 2025)

6- Port of Algeciras

Algeciras Port, located in Andalusia, Spain.. The Algeciras Bay Administration, or the APBA, is responsible for its operations and oversight. This maritime powerhouse has two primary container terminals: APM Terminals Algeciras, with a maximum draft of 17 meters, and Total Terminal International Algeciras, with a top draft of 17.5 to 18.5 meters. It has reached 4.6 Million TEU in the 2025 H1 Period.

• from PORT OF NEW YORK to PORT OF ALGECIRAS

• from PORT OF MERSIN to PORT OF ALGECIRAS

• from PORT OF ALGECIRAS to PORT OF CAPE TOWN

7- Port of Bremerhaven

The Port of Bremerhaven is located in Germany. Located on the banks of the Weser River, this port’s container terminal plays an essential role in managing Germany’s import and export activities. With the influence of the port, Bremerhaven has become a vital center for trade and tourism. The port, which reached 4.5 Million TEU in the 2025 H1 Period, is essential for the country.

• from PORT OF BREMERHAVEN to PORT OF CAPE TOWN

• from PORT OFSANTOS to PORT OF BREMERHAVEN

• from PORT OF BREMERHAVEN to PORT OF FELIXSTOWE

8- Port of Barcelona

Located in the northeastern corner of Spain, the Port of Barcelona is considered one of the most important in Spain and one of the most important ports in Europe. With more than 2,000 years of maritime history, it has a rich history of continuous operation. Today, the Port of Barcelona is an essential port for container traffic, with two container terminals efficiently handling the passage of more than 3,000 container ships each year. It has reached the level of 3.5 million TEU in the 2025 H1 period.

• from PORT OF BARCELONA to PORT OF ROTTERDAM

• from PORT OF HAIFA to PORT OF BARCELONA

• from PORT OF BARCELONA to PORT OF CHINA

9- Port of Gioia Tauro

Port of Gioia is located in Southern Italy. The Port of Gioia Tauro stands as one of the leading container ports in Europe. Its strategic location on the bustling sea route connecting Suez and Gibraltar places it in one of the busiest sea corridors in the world. In particular, this Italian container hub has defied the prevailing trend with a remarkable 33.6% growth in container volumes between 2019 and 2022. This achievement is particularly notable given that many other ports have experienced declines in container volumes during the challenging COVID-19 era. It has reached 3.3 million TEU’s in the 2025 H1 period.

• from PORT OF GIOIA TAURO to PORT OF MELBOURNE

• from PORT OF GIOIA TAURO to PORT OF MERSIN

• from PORT OF NEW YORK to PORT OF GIOIA TAURO

10- Port of Le Havre (Haropa)

Le Havre Haropa Port represents a dynamic port complex in France consisting of Le Havre, Rouen, and Paris ports. Its history dates back to 1517, when Le Havre was founded. In 1524, the Port of Le Havre started its official activities to promote trade. In particular, it has a distinctive artificial port designed for efficient cargo handling. In the 2025 H1 period, the port has reached 3.1 Million TEU’s.

• from PORT OF LE HAVRE to PORT OF CASABLANCA

• from PORT OF LE HAVRE to PORT OF CAPE TOWN

• from PORT OF NEW YORK to PORT OF LE HAVRE

Related : Europe’s ports: Ready for the market uptake of new shipping fuels

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