Contents
- 10 Grimsby and Immingham. Cargo turnover 62,6 million tons
- 9. Valencia. Cargo turnover 64,5 million tons
- 8. Havre. Cargo turnover 67,2 million tons
- 7. Marseilles. Cargo turnover 74,8 million tons
- 6. Bremen and Bremerhaven. Freight turnover 78,8 million tons
- 5. Algeciras and La Linea. Cargo turnover 85,6 million tons
- 4. Amsterdam. Freight turnover 95,7 million tons
- 3. Hamburg. Cargo turnover 139 million tons
- 2. Antwerp. Cargo turnover 190,8 million tons
- 1. Rotterdam. Cargo turnover 440,5 million tons
From the Vikings to the Portuguese, the history of Europe is inextricably linked to its seaports. Today, these ports continue to play a key role both in world trade and in the domestic market of the continent.
According to the European Seaports Organization, 90% of freight traffic in Europe passes through more than 1200 seaports in 23 maritime member states of the European Union.
As the gateway to the entire EU transport network, European ports play a key role in trade, economic development and job creation.
There are direct connections from ports in England, Spain, Belgium and other countries to almost 850 destinations in the Far East and more than 600 ports in Central and South America.
While these ports are obviously important for global trade, they are often also the preferred option for road or rail transport.
Below is a list of the 10 largest seaports in foreign Europe.
10 Grimsby and Immingham. Cargo turnover 62,6 million tons
A country: United Kingdom
Ports of Grimsby and Immingham located close to the mouth of the Humber Estuary, making them ideal for delivering cargo between the UK and Scandinavia, the Baltic and mainland Europe.
The location on the central east coast and direct links to the motorway and rail networks give Grimsby and Immingham quick and easy access to the UK’s industrial heartland.
Cargoes handled include timber, paper, dry bulk materials, agro-bulk materials, ores, minerals, solid fuels, biomass, liquid bulk materials, frozen and fresh food, project, general, ro-ro, steel and containers.
The combination of location, good communications, excellent facilities and flexible operation resulted in Grimsby and Immingham having the highest capacity in the UK.
9. Valencia. Cargo turnover 64,5 million tons
A country: Spain
Valencia is engaged in the transportation of almost all types of goods from all sectors of the economy. Main customers Port of Valencia are: furniture and woodworking industry, textile, footwear, agricultural and food industries (grain and fodder, wine and drinks, canned food, fruits, etc.), fuel products (diesel fuel, gasoline, coal, etc.) , chemical and automotive vehicles (Ford, Fiat, Land Rover, Jaguar, etc.), construction industry (cement and clinker, ceramic tiles, marble, etc.), machinery, etc.
The port of Valencia also has regular passenger services to/from the Balearic Islands and Italy. In recent years, the port of Valencia has seen a constant and steady increase in Mediterranean cruise traffic.
8. Havre. Cargo turnover 67,2 million tons
A country: France
Big Marine port of Le Havre, opened in 1524, is located in Normandy, on the banks of the Canal. A commercial and passenger port, it is also a marina for yachts and fishing.
As one of the first European ports, the seaport of Le Havre is also the second largest in France after the port of Marseille in terms of traffic. Covering an area of 10 hectares, it covers no less than eight cities: Le Havre, Gonfreville-l’Orcher, Rogerville, Udal, Sandouville, Saint-Vigord-d’Imonville, La Serlange and Tankarville.
The seaport of Le Havre, in addition to trading, also offers ferries to England. Thanks to its size and its own aesthetic, it has inspired many artists such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro or Eugene Boudin.
7. Marseilles. Cargo turnover 74,8 million tons
A country: France
French port of Marseille is one of the oldest seaports in the country and the busiest oil port. It handles oil and bulk liquids as well as bulk materials such as minerals and grains.
Controlled by the Port Authority of Marseille Fos, the port serves as a trading gateway to European markets. In 2009, he handled over 11 ship calls.
The port consists of eastern and western basins. The eastern basin covers an area of 400 ha and the western basin over 10 ha.
6. Bremen and Bremerhaven. Freight turnover 78,8 million tons
A country: Germany
From the beginning of the ninth century, the port was originally a trading post for the local river (River Weser). By the early 1400s, Bremen/Bremerhaven had become an organized import and export trade center for Northern Europe.
The port was able to accommodate steamships for the first time in 1930, enabling future growth. However, the turmoil of World War II brought the port to a halt for more than a decade.
In 1957 year Port Bremerhaven started providing services to handle increased road traffic; this, in turn, helped fuel the growing German auto industry.
Ports of Bremen continue to expand and modernize to remain competitive with the ports of Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp.
5. Algeciras and La Linea. Cargo turnover 85,6 million tons
A country: Spain
Ports operated by the Port Authority in the Gulf of Algeciras enjoy a privileged position between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and represent the fundamental freight and passenger transport between Europe and Africa.
Port of Algeciras becomes a logistics base in Andalusia for ships during their technical stops, offering a wide range of services, including repairs and bunkering, crew changes and consumables.
4. Amsterdam. Freight turnover 95,7 million tons
A country: Netherlands
Port of Amsterdam is a low tide port located on the shores of the North Sea canal and the IJsselmeer, a shallow artificial lake located in the northwestern part of the Netherlands. The port is connected to major international traffic routes such as the North Sea, Den Helder, Markermeer, IJsselmeer and the Rhine.
The port is the second largest in the Netherlands in terms of transshipment. It ranks fourth among European ports. In the first half of 2011, the port handled 37,5 million tons of cargo, which is 5,7% more than in the first half of 2010.
3. Hamburg. Cargo turnover 139 million tons
A country: Germany
Port of Hamburg is a world famous and important German seaport. According to container capacity rating statistics, the port ranks first in all of Germany, second in all of Europe and 11th among other ports in the world.
The port creates an important water supply network to the main North Sea near the Elbe River. The port of Hamburg, covering a geographic area of 7 ha, has a total berthing capacity of 250 ports and can be used for any type of cargo ship.
2. Antwerp. Cargo turnover 190,8 million tons
A country: Belgium
Port of Antwerp located in the heart of the most powerful shopping area in Europe. It hosts Europe’s leading integrated maritime and logistics platform, which ensures smooth, error-free and fast transit of goods to all major European markets.
The Port of Antwerp is also known for its fast, intuitive and uncomplicated customs procedures.
1. Rotterdam. Cargo turnover 440,5 million tons
A country: Netherlands
Port of Rotterdam is one of the oldest and largest seaports in Europe. The port, which was the world’s busiest port from 1962 to 1986, is now overshadowed by Asian ports such as Singapore and Shanghai.
The port of Rotterdam is considered a strategically important distribution point in Europe, as it is surrounded by the densely populated and industrialized centers of Europe – the German Ruhr, Paris and London.
The port of Rotterdam originated in 1283, when a small fishing village was established at the mouth of the Rotte River, as a result of which a piece of land was developed. The port became a major seaport in 1360 after the construction of a canal at Shche. This development allowed the port to gain access to larger cities to the north and facilitate the transport of goods between England and Germany.