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EU Ports: Rotterdam & Antwerp Dominate Shipping
7 Sep
Summary
- Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges are Europe's busiest ports.
- The Netherlands leads EU countries in goods handled by ports.
- EU ports handle 26% of global maritime freight trade.
Maritime transport remains the backbone of Europe's supply chain, handling a significant portion of global trade.
As of 2024, Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium stand out as the EU's busiest ports by volume.
Rotterdam managed 397.3 million tonnes, while Antwerp-Bruges handled 243.7 million tonnes. Hamburg, Germany, followed with 97 million tonnes.
Across the EU, ports collectively processed 3.4 billion tonnes of goods, representing 26% of the global total. Almost 90% of the EU's external trade relies on sea transport.
The Netherlands leads all EU countries in total goods handled, with its ports managing 538.1 million tonnes. Italy and Spain follow closely in national rankings.
In March 2026, the European Commission adopted new strategies to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the EU's waterborne sector.
