Dry bulk falls at Bilbao as port sees large year-on-year increase

(Posted on 25/07/26)

In the first half of the year, the Port of Bilbao, Spain, handled 17,317,427 tonnes of cargo, an increase of 1,893,980 tonnes and 12.3% up on the same period last year. This figure represents the highest year-on-year growth recorded at the start of a year for the last twenty-two years, or since 2004.

Furthermore, despite a difficult start to the year due to the storms, mostly in January and part of February, that affected the vast majority of state-owned ports, and which, in the case of the Port of Bilbao, led to a 9.5% year-on-year decrease in cargo handling in January, the subsequent months, from February to June, have seen the highest volumes of cargo recorded over this period in the last 18 years.

Dry bulk cargo fell by 11.5%. Of particular note is the 24% increase in liquid bulk, following the return to normal operations at the Petronor refinery. Containerised cargo, a strategic sector for the port, rose by almost 3%, whilst non-containerised general cargo fell by 4% (with a 5.1% increase in breakbulk, the best figures in this decade, and an 18.7% fall in Ro-Ro cargo).

Among the main commodities, crude oil imports, up almost 1.8 million tonnes and recording a 52% year-on-year increase, account for 30% of total traffic. The unloading of liquefied natural gas, up 11% (+200,849 tonnes), accounted for 11% of the total volume of cargo handled. Exports of petrol and chemical products, as well as imports of soybeans, also increased.

The volume of project cargo linked to offshore wind power also maintains a positive trend, with the export of monopiles and offshore towers manufactured by Haizea Wind within the Port itself. This year, specifically, Haizea Wind is manufacturing a 97.3 metre long monopile weighing 1,860 tonnes.

In the first half of the year, the port has also hosted other complex logistics operations involving various large-scale components, such as the unloading, assembly and transfer of four units that make up the structure of the green hydrogen-powered synthetic fuels plant currently being built by Petronor within the port itself. These structures weigh between 160 and 535 tonnes, are up to 33 metres high and have a combined weight of 1,200 tonnes.

Although the international arena continues to be marked by geopolitical tension and tariff uncertainty, this, as yet, had had no significant impact on traffic volumes. Imports are up around 14% and exports by 9%. Short and deep-sea traffic are steadily becoming equally balanced, making Bilbao an international port serving all types of markets, both European and transoceanic. At present, short-sea shipping accounts for 51% of traffic, whilst deep-sea accounts for 49%.

Deep-sea traffic is the fastest-growing, together with that from Mediterranean Africa and coastal shipping with other Spanish ports. By country, the leaders in terms of total traffic are the United States, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom. Of these, the countries showing the strongest growth in tonnage, largely due to liquid bulk, are Mexico, Spain, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, with Brazil being the only one among them to see a decline in traffic.

Latest News

Antwerp-Bruges stands firm as geopolitical forces reshape trade flows

In the first half of 2026, Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 133.9 million tonnes of maritime cargo, a... Read more

PD Ports announce Paul Foreman as new CEO

PD Ports, one of the UK’s major port and logistics businesses, announced today that Paul Foreman... Read more

New San Diego bulk sugar import facility to use only electric trucks

The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners has approved an Option to Lease Agreement and authorised... Read more

Expanded partnership through bulk infrastructure development at Khalifa Port

AD Ports Group, an Abu Dhabi based, leading global enabler of integrated trade, industry and logistics... Read more

Port of Hamburg strengthens partnership with China

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and SPG Qingdao Port Group have signed a Port Partnership Agreement... Read more

Contract awarded for Pilbara Ports Zone 5 Bypass Channel

The Cook Labor Government in Australia has welcomed the award of a dredging contract to Jan De Nul ... Read more

Netherlands Parliamentary rules out Maasvlakte II as location for new nuclear power plants

A parliamentary letter in the Netherlands on the selection of a site for the construction of two new... Read more

SSAB’s port operations in Raahe develop safety together with ESL Shipping

The long-term safety cooperation between ESL Shipping and the port of SSAB’s Raahe site is visible... Read more

Liverpool sees 200% rise in fertiliser imports interest amid ongoing uncertainty

The Port of Liverpool is experiencing a surge in demand from fertiliser importers as continued uncertainty... Read more

PD Ports strengthens Teesport bulk handling with £5.4m crane investment

PD Ports has further strengthened its bulk handling capability at Teesport with the arrival of... Read more