Port of Gdańsk Among Europe’s Leaders

According to Eurostat data for 2023, the Port of Gdańsk handled 61 million tonnes of cargo in short sea shipping (with total throughput reaching 81 million tonnes), placing it on the podium just behind Western Europe’s largest ports – Rotterdam (159 million tonnes) and Antwerp-Bruges (119 million tonnes). For comparison, Trieste closed the year with 46 million tonnes, while Amsterdam recorded 39 million tonnes.

As recently as 2022, the Port of Gdańsk was in 5th place among the EU’s largest short sea shipping ports. One year later, thanks to dynamic growth in throughput, the port advanced to 3rd position, overtaking competitors from Southern and Western Europe.

This is a tremendous success that confirms the growing importance of the Port of Gdańsk as a strategic maritime gateway for all of Europe. This high position is the result of our business partners’ trust, the hard work of the port’s people, and consistent investment in infrastructure. It is proof that our efforts are delivering measurable results and a clear signal to investors that the Port of Gdańsk is a modern, dynamically developing hub, ready to meet the growing demands of the market - commented Dorota Pyć, President of the Port of Gdańsk Authority.

A Strong Maritime Poland

Short Sea Shipping (SSS) covers maritime transport over relatively short distances – primarily between EU ports, as well as to and from countries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins. It is a key transport segment for the EU economy – in 2023, it accounted for 56.6% of the Union’s total seaborne freight transport.

The total volume of goods carried in SSS in the EU in 2023 reached 1.6 billion tonnes, marking a 5.4% decline compared to the previous year. It is worth noting that as many as 16 of the EU’s 20 largest ports recorded a decrease in throughput during this period. The sharpest declines were seen in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Haropa, and Rotterdam. One of the exceptions was the Port of Gdańsk, which achieved one of the highest growth rates in Europe (+40%).

This was the second-best result in Europe, surpassed only by Italy’s Taranto (+50%). For comparison, Genoa recorded a 13.5% increase, while many leading ports such as Rotterdam and Antwerp experienced declines. Particularly impressive are the Port of Gdańsk’s results in the liquid fuels segment, where throughput rose by as much as 50% year-on-year, reaching 31 million tonnes. In this area, the port is now among Europe’s leaders, ahead of Trieste, among others.

A Strategic Gateway for Northern Europe

Eurostat emphasizes that the development of ports is part of a broader trend of Europe’s trade routes shifting eastward. Poland’s maritime infrastructure is becoming an increasingly important link connecting Northern and Central Europe with the North Sea and Baltic Sea basins.

The Port of Gdańsk’s growing importance is also the result of consistent investments in port and terminal infrastructure. The modernization of quays, the expansion of the Baltic Hub container terminal, and investments in access infrastructure (road and rail) not only increase the port’s capacity but also enhance its international competitiveness.

Across the European Union, Poland ranks among the countries that recorded the highest growth in short sea shipping in 2023. According to Eurostat, Poland’s result rose by 21.6%, placing it on the podium alongside Malta (+40.4%) and France (+22.6%). This is a historic success for a Polish port, which – alongside Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges – is now setting the direction for the development of European short sea shipping.

Source: Port of Gdańsk Authority S.A.