Container traffic, which is a strategic sector for the Port and closely related to the local economy, grew for all types of operations. In the foreign trade area, we would point to the surge in imports (264,624 TEU, +11%), although exports are stronger in absolute terms (323,580 TEU, + 4%). It is worth mentioning that export containers were 54% higher than their maximum level before the onset of the crisis.
Coastal shipping with the Balearic and Canary Islands grew by 13%, whilst transhipment (containers unloaded temporarily before being reshipped to their final destination) posted a strong recovery, growing more than 20%.
By countries, China remains the Port of Barcelona’s main trading partner, with a 10% increase in trade with the Catalan port. 23.5% of all containers passing through the Port either start or end in that country. Other markets with dynamic trade with Barcelona were the United States (+8%), United Arab Emirates (+28%), India (+19%) and Mexico (+7%).
During the first half of the year, the Port of Barcelona handled total traffic of 24.2 million tonnes (including all cargo modes), a 4% increase compared to the same period in 2015.
More import vehicles
Up to June the Port’s terminals handled a total of 477,202 vehicles, an increase of 6%. Most of these (398,362 units) were for external trade, an area dominated by exports (240,000 vehicles) and imports, which despite their smaller volume (102,510 units), nonetheless grew by 16.5%.
As regards bulk goods, the amount of liquid bulks remained virtually unchanged year on year, with a total of 6 million tonnes. One product with a significant increase was diesel fuel, up 50%. Total solid bulk totalled 2.2 million tonnes, spelling a 5% increase. The products with the biggest increase were cereals and meal (+48%) and feed and fodder (+32%).
During this period, the motorways of the sea transported more than 68,000 ITUs (intermodal transport units, equivalent to one lorry, platform or trailer). These mixed lines (Ro-Ro and passengers) connecting Barcelona to various destinations in Italy and North Africa, took the same number of lorries off the roads and onto the maritime mode, which is economically and environmentally more efficient.
More ferry passengers and cruise passengers in turnaround
More than 1.5 million passengers used the Port of Barcelona during the first six months of the year, either on regular ferry lines or cruisers. The number of passengers using ferries (which connect Barcelona with the Balearics, Italy and North Africa) grew by 12%.
Total cruise passengers (more than a million) remained virtually stable with regard to 2015, although there was a significant increase (+15%) in the number of passengers in turnaround (who begin and end their trip at the Port of Barcelona and therefore make a greater contribution to the city’s economy).
Economic results
During the first half of the year, the Port of Barcelona recorded net turnover of €76.1 million, up 1% over the same period in 2015. Net profit for these first six months was €19.1 million, marking an increase of 30% with respect to the €14.7 million the previous financial year. This increase is related to a 60% fall in financial expenses for a series of reasons, such as the cancelling of the €47.5 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the fall in the interest rates applicable to the remaining EIB loans.
As regards resource generation, operating cash flow for the half-year was €43.2 million, representing an increase of 16%.