After growing steadily between 2002 and 2007, the total weight of goods handled in maritime ports in the EU27 remained nearly stable at 3.9 billion tonnes in 2008. It then fell by 12% to 3.4 bn tonnes in 2009 as the result of the economic crisis.

From 2010 the weight of goods handled increased again, to reach 3.7 bn tonnes in 2011, still below the level recorded in 2008. Compared with 2010, the weight of goods handled increased by 2% in 2011.

For sea transport of passengers, the number of passengers embarking or disembarking in maritime ports in the EU27 has fallen steadily from a peak of 414 million passengers in 2007, to reach 385 mn in 2011. Compared with 2010, the number of passengers decreased by 4% in 2011.

These figures are published in a report from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, on port activity for goods and passengers in the EU, as well as Norway, Croatia and Turkey.

The United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, France and Germany represent just over two-thirds of the total weight of goods handled

The Member States with the largest total weight of goods handled in maritime ports in 2011 were the United Kingdom (520 mn tonnes, +2% compared with 2010), Italy (500 mn tonnes, +1%), the Netherlands (492 mn tonnes, -9%), Spain (398 mn tonnes, +6%), France (322 mn tonnes, +3%) and Germany (296 mn tonnes, +7%).

Italy, Greece, Denmark, Sweden and Germany account for just over two-thirds of the total number of passengers handled

In 2011, the highest numbers of passengers embarking or disembarking in maritime ports were recorded in Italy (82 mn passengers, -7% compared with 2010), Greece (79 mn, -8%), Denmark (42 mn, -1%), Sweden (30 mn, 0%), Germany (29 mn, +2%), the United Kingdom (28 mn, -3%), France (26 mn, -6%) and Spain (22 mn, +3%).

Rotterdam largest port for goods handling, Dover for passengers

Among the top ten cargo ports in terms of tonnes of goods handled, Rotterdam (370 mn tonnes weight of goods handled, -6% compared with 2010) was the largest port in 2011, followed by Antwerp (169 mn tonnes, +5%), Hamburg (114 mn tonnes, +9%), Marseille (85 mn tonnes, +3%) and Algeciras (69 mn tonnes, +17%).

Dover (13 mn passengers, -3% compared with 2010) was the busiest port in terms of the number of passengers disembarking or embarking in 2011, followed by Paloukia Salaminas and Perama (both 12 mn, -8%), Helsinki (10 mn, +5%) and Calais (10 mn, -2%).