The list of the largest European ports
The history of Europe’s ports is a bit like the history of the world. From 1962 Rotterdam will become the largest port in the world, but in the early 2000s, it will give way to the Asian ports of Singapore and Shanghai. Zoom on the largest ports in Europe.
1. Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the largest port in Europe.
Almost 400 million tons of goods pass through the port of Rotterdam every year. In terms of containers, this is the equivalent of 12.3 million twenty-foot containers (6-meter long TEU containers) that transit through the port of Rotterdam.
The Port of Rotterdam’s facilities extends over a length of 42 kilometers and an area of more than 120 square kilometers.
2. Antwerp in Belgium, one of the largest ports in Europe
More than 10 million containers pass through the port of Antwerp every year, more or less 223 million tons (these figures are for 2018). The port covers 129 km². Antwerp is the 17th largest port in the world, specializing mainly in petrochemicals and container transit. On a national level, it is the largest port and the real economic lung of Belgium. In terms of tourism, the city of Antwerp is charming to visit and is even one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium.
Unusual informations about the port of Antwerp
– The largest ship ever received in the port of Antwerp is the Madrid Maersk. It is a 399-meter long container ship with a total width of 58.6 meters and a draught of 16 meters (when fully loaded). The transport capacity of the cargo ship Madrid Maersk is 20,568 containers
– two million cars per year. This is the maximum vehicle transhipment capacity in Antwerp. In 2018 1.2 million cars will be transhipped. (source: Port of Antwerp, activity report 2018)
– 60% of European consumers live within a radius of less than five hundred kilometers of the port. This makes the port a strategic gateway for goods.
3. Hamburg, Germany
Depending on the year, the port of Hamburg receives between 135 and 145 million tons, which is an ancient port complex. The Port of Hamburg is an old port complex, founded in 1189 by Emperor Barbarossa, and covers an area of 87 km², specializing in river transport and container traffic management. (TEU)But Hamburg is not only a port, but it is also one of the largest and most beautiful cities in Germany.
4. Amsterdam in the Netherlands
The 113.5 million tons of goods traded through the port of Amsterdam, places it in fourth place in the ranking of the largest ports in Europe, a famous port celebrated by Jacques Brel and a song that toured Europe. “In the port of Amsterdam, there are sailors… “The second largest port in the Netherlands covers almost 600 hectares of canals and 1,900 hectares of land. The port faces the North Sea.
5. Algeciras in Spain, one of the largest ports in Europe
103 million tons of goods (2016 figures) transit through the port of Algeciras each year. This is an average of over 100 million tons that pass through the port of Algeciras every year. If we look at the number of containers that pass through the port of Algeciras, we can see that this figure amounts to 4.75 million TEUs (containers of 20 feet or more – over 6 meters).
Located in the region of Cádiz, this sizeable commercial port is also major fishing and passenger port. Ideally situated on the shores of the Strait of Gibraltar, it is the largest port in Spain and is also the largest port in the Mediterranean.
6. Marseille one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean Sea
In this ranking of Europe’s largest ports, we find Marseilles with its 82 million tons of goods exchanged each year. There are also 1.3 million containers.
Marseilles is nevertheless the 2nd largest city in France and the sixth-largest port in Europe. But it is above all the largest port in France!
7. Bremerhaven in Germany
78 million tons passed through the port of Bremen or Bremerhaven in German. The port is located in one of the largest cities in Germany and is also the second-largest port in Germany.
However, the activity of the city of Bremen is not limited to its port activity alone. For Bremen, this city in Lower Saxony is also an industrial city that produces ships with Lürssen or Abeking & Rasmussen. The famous car manufacturer Mercedes Benz assembles vehicles here. But there is also an aeronautics plant of EADS and the industrial brewery.
But the activity of the city of Bremen is not limited to its port activity alone. For Bremen, this city in Lower Saxony is also an industrial city that produces ships with Lürssen or Abeking & Rasmussen. The famous car manufacturer Mercedes Benz assembles vehicles here. But there is also an EADS aircraft factory and Beck’s industrial brewery. They do not forget one of the leaders in the food industry, the famous Kellogg’s.
The port Bremerhaven is located at the mouth of the river Weser a few dozen kilometres from the city of Bremen.
8. Genoa, the largest port in Italy
The port of Genoa is a vast port complex that includes an oil terminal, a passenger port (Ferries). But it is above all also a cargo port where freighters come to unload tens of thousands of containers. And Genoa is finally a marina and a beautiful marina that occupies the quays of the old port.
In Genoa, therefore, almost 70 million tons of goods are handled every year. This makes it the largest port in Italy and the eighth largest in Europe.
9. Valencia in Spain
67 million tons of goods are handled each year by the port. But that’s 4.3 million containers (TEU containers equivalent to 20 feet).
The port of Valencia is located in the south-east of Spain, facing the Mediterranean Sea. Its surface area is six hundred hectares.
Address of the Port of Valencia: avenuda del Muelle del Turia, 46024 Valencia
The port of Valencia is also a passenger port (ferry port). Because there are regular lines with the Balearic Islands but also with North Africa and Italy, this activity ensures the port of Valencia even more maritime traffic and the possibility of managing even more freight.
This commercial port plays an essential role for the Spanish economy, contributing 12.8% of the country’s foreign trade.
10. The port of Le Havre, France
Every year, about 2.5 million containers pass through the port of Le Havre.
Le Havre is, therefore, the tenth-largest port in Europe. Founded in 1517 by François 1st, this sizeable commercial port covers more than ten thousand hectares.
And this is what makes it the first French port in terms of containers.
10. Grimsby and Immingham, the largest port in the United Kingdom
Joking aside, the ports of Grimsby and Immingham have annual traffic of 60 million tons. They thus capture nearly 15% of the national maritime traffic, making them the largest port in the country.
11. Saint Petersburg, Russia
St. Petersburg is the gateway to the Russian Federation, the largest country in the world. The port of St. Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great in 1703. Once the capital of Tsarist Russia, Saint-Petersburg remains today the cultural capital. It is also the second-largest city in Russia.
An estimate indicates that 30% of Russian exports pass through the port. And as for imports, it is estimated that a quarter of everything entering Russia passes through the port of St. Petersburg.
The port of St. Petersburg is a strategic sea entrance as it provides access to the five Russian seas: the White Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Sea of Azov, the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. This is due in particular to the river developments.
It should be noted that the port of Saint-Petersburg plays a leading role in tourism as it is also a passenger port and a port of call for cruise passengers. As far as cruises are concerned, there is between Moscow and St. Petersburg a rather famous route on the Volga River. But there are also regular lines with the capitals of Stockholm, Helsinki as well as with all the capitals of the Baltic Sea.
photo credits: Yann Ve – Night stopover