More than 70 million t annually
The Mediterranean Port of Barcelona handled 70.9 million t of freight in 2022, almost 7% more than in 2021. With this throughput, the port passed the throughput threshold of 70 million t for the first time, handling even more cargo than before the pandemic. The previous record 67.8 million t and was achieved in 2018.
All traffic segments experienced positive results in 2022, except for containers, which moved sidewards (-0.3% compared to 2021), and exceeded 3.5 million teu. Import containers (+3.4%) and transit containers (+4.5%) remained positive and broke a new record, while export containers were down 5.9%.
China, the Port of Barcelona's principal market, reduced its imports by 29.5%, while exports grew by 1%. In contrast, countries such as USA or India increased their traffic by over 10%.
Dry bulk closed the year at 4.5 million t, up 2% on 2021. At 12 million t, hydrocarbons, which are the main item, grew by 34.5%, driven by petrol (+113%) and LNG, at 3.9 million t (+39.1). Car traffic performed very well, with more than 591,000 units moved, representing an improvement of 18.4%.
The Port of Barcelona closed FY/2022 with turnover of EUR 181 million, a year-on-year increase of 20% and 5% above the year before the pandemic, when it stood at EUR 172 million.
It should be noted that this record figure, 50% of which is provided by containers and liquid bulk traffic, would have been higher had the Port not launched its recovery plan for the period 2021-2022 to mitigate the effects of Covid on port activity. Ebitda stood at EUR 104 million and outturn was EUR 63 million, up 66% year on year. (cd)
www.portdebarcelona.cat/Resultats2022