Valenciaport container traffic rebounds in September as imports strengthen

Valenciaport recorded a 5.48% increase in container traffic during September 2026, handling 498,837 TEUs as stronger import and export activity supported a recovery in monthly volumes.

According to figures released by the Port Authority of Valencia (APV), exports of full containers increased by 5.68% compared with September 2025, while imports rose by 11.68%. Total cargo throughput reached 6.6 million metric tons during the month, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.05%.

The September results also showed an improvement in transshipment activity compared with the trend recorded earlier in the year. Full containers in transit totalled 179,002 units, down 0.82% year-on-year, indicating a considerably smaller decline than the cumulative reduction registered during the first nine months.

Despite the stronger monthly performance, overall container traffic remained slightly below last year’s levels over the January–September period.

Imports strengthen as transshipment remains under pressure

During the first nine months of 2026, Valenciaport handled approximately 4.2 million TEUs, representing a 0.91% decrease compared with the corresponding period of 2025. Total cargo throughput across the ports of Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia reached 59.2 million metric tons, down 2.13%.

Import activity remained a major source of growth. Full import containers increased by 10.02% to 856,431 units during the nine-month period, while full export containers edged up 0.31% to 681,113 TEUs.

Transshipment continued to weigh on overall container volumes, with 1,552,065 full containers handled in transit, representing a 9.81% decline compared with the previous year.

The contrast between rising import volumes and declining transshipment traffic highlights the different trends affecting Valenciaport’s container operations. September’s more moderate transshipment decline nevertheless contributed to the improvement in the port’s monthly results.

Over the latest rolling 12-month period, Valenciaport handled 5,623,753 TEUs, almost unchanged from the preceding twelve months, with a difference of just 30 TEUs. Cargo throughput during the same period reached 78.7 million metric tons, a decrease of 1.56%.

Full export containers increased by 3.88% to 921,642 TEUs over the rolling 12-month period, while full imports rose by 13.69% to 1,129,805 units. Full transshipment containers, meanwhile, declined by 10.66%.

China leads Valenciaport’s international container trade

China maintained its position as Valenciaport’s largest international market for container traffic during the first nine months of 2026.

Container volumes associated with China reached 714,691 TEUs, representing a 15.07% increase compared with the same period in 2025. Cargo tonnage linked to China also increased by 15.75%, reaching 7.66 million metric tons.

The United States ranked second in international container traffic, with 246,237 TEUs, although volumes declined by 14.71% year-on-year. Algeria followed with 225,257 TEUs, down 7.22%, while Turkey accounted for 142,081 containers, a decrease of 18.98%.

Measured by cargo tonnage, Italy was Valenciaport’s second-largest international market, with 4.53 million metric tons, followed by the United States at 4.38 million metric tons. Both markets recorded year-on-year declines of 12.53% and 3.43%, respectively.

The figures show differing developments across Valenciaport’s principal trading markets, with continued growth in traffic linked to China alongside weaker volumes associated with several other major partners.

Bulk cargo and freight vehicle traffic record growth

Beyond container traffic, Valenciaport reported increases across several cargo categories during the first nine months of the year.

Solid bulk throughput increased by 4.58%, liquid bulk by 0.85% and non-containerised general cargo by 2.40%. Containerised cargo tonnage, however, declined by 3.80%, consistent with the weaker transshipment figures.

Freight vehicle traffic also increased, reaching 404,543 units between January and September, up 8.77% compared with the corresponding period of 2025.

Passenger traffic presented a mixed picture. The port authority recorded 1,152,887 passengers during the nine-month period, down 12.45%, as cruise passenger numbers fell by 27.93% to 456,225. Passengers travelling on scheduled routes increased by 1.88% to 696,662.

Overall, the latest figures show an improvement in Valenciaport’s monthly container performance, supported by stronger imports and exports, while the cumulative results continue to reflect the impact of lower transshipment volumes.