BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 28. In 2023, the European Union's major ports witnessed a steady increase in vessel traffic, with a 1.5% rise in the total number of vessels calling at ports, bringing the total to 2.2 million, Trend reports.
This growth has had a noticeable impact on the Balkan region, with certain countries reporting significant improvements in port activity, while others face declines.
Greece, a dominant player in the shipping sector, maintained its top position in 2023 with an impressive 477,115 vessel calls. Italy followed closely behind with 449,131 vessels, and Denmark came third with 322,230. The substantial number of port calls in Greece highlights its role as a major maritime hub in the EU.
However, the Balkans presented a mixed picture. Countries like Croatia have experienced impressive growth in their port activities. The country reported a significant 40.3% increase in vessel traffic since 2013, showcasing its growing importance as a key port of entry in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, Greece and Bulgaria both saw a rise in the average gross tonnage of vessels, signaling a shift towards larger and more efficient vessels in the region.
On the other hand, countries like Bulgaria and Slovenia reported lower vessel traffic in comparison to their European counterparts. Bulgaria saw a decline of 21.2% in the number of vessels calling at its ports since 2013. Although the average size of vessels calling at Bulgarian ports increased by 15.4%, the overall decline in traffic could be a sign of broader challenges facing the country’s maritime sector. Slovenia, with the smallest number of port calls in the Balkans (1,760), also lagged behind in terms of growth, although it reported one of the highest average gross tonnages for vessels at 29,578 tonnes.
In contrast, Croatia and Romania showed strong signs of expansion, with Croatia experiencing a significant surge in the size of vessels calling at its ports. The average vessel size in the country remained the smallest among the major EU ports, at just 1,533 tonnes, but the country’s growing infrastructure suggests a promising future for its maritime industry.
As European ports continue to modernize, larger vessels are becoming increasingly common. In 2023, the average gross tonnage of vessels calling at the EU’s major ports was 8,058 tonnes, up by 5.2% from 2022 and 18.1% from 2013. While countries like Belgium and Slovenia saw the largest vessels with an average of 32,446 tonnes and 29,578 tonnes respectively, the trend towards bigger ships is also evident in the Balkans. Bulgaria, for instance, registered a 15.4% increase in the size of vessels calling at its ports, while Romania’s vessel size grew by 14.6%.
While the overall port activity across the Balkans presents a combination of successes and challenges, the region’s maritime sector is clearly undergoing a period of transformation. As countries like Croatia and Bulgaria work to improve their port infrastructure, the Balkan region’s role in EU maritime trade looks set to grow in the coming years.
For now, Greece’s position as a leader in EU port traffic remains unchallenged, but the rise of countries like Croatia in vessel size and port activity shows that the region’s maritime industry is not standing still.