Port of Bilbao Defies Market Uncertainty as Cargo Surges 12.3% and €87 Million Investment Drive Accelerates

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Despite geopolitical tensions, tariff uncertainty, and a storm disrupted start to the year, the Port of Bilbao has delivered one of its strongest first half performances in more than two decades. Cargo volumes climbed 12.3 percent year on year to 17.3 million tonnes during the first six months of 2026, marking the highest growth recorded for the opening half of a year since 2004.

The strongest contributor to growth came from liquid bulk cargo. Following the return of the Petronor refinery to normal operations, liquid bulk traffic increased by 24 percent. Crude oil imports alone rose by almost 1.8 million tonnes, representing a 52 percent increase compared with the same period last year and accounting for nearly 30 percent of all cargo handled.

Liquefied natural gas also continued its upward trend, increasing by 11 percent and representing another significant share of port traffic. Imports of soybeans, together with exports of petrol and chemical products, added further momentum to overall volumes.

Container traffic, another strategic segment for the port, grew by almost 3 percent. While non containerised general cargo declined by 4 percent, breakbulk cargo stood out with a 5.1 percent increase, delivering its strongest performance of the decade. Ro Ro cargo, however, declined by 18.7 percent.

Project cargo linked to offshore wind continues to strengthen Bilbao’s position as an industrial logistics hub. The port is handling exports of monopiles and offshore towers manufactured by Haizea Wind, including a monopile measuring 97.3 metres in length and weighing 1,860 tonnes.

Another complex operation involved four major components destined for Petronor’s green hydrogen synthetic fuels plant inside the port. The structures ranged from 160 to 535 tonnes, reached heights of up to 33 metres, and combined for approximately 1,200 tonnes. These heavy lift movements underline Bilbao’s growing importance in supporting Europe’s energy transition.

Although vessel calls declined slightly to 1,285 during the first half, gross tonnage increased by 14 percent as shipping lines deployed larger vessels. This trend reflects wider developments across global container shipping, where operators continue to maximise capacity through larger ships.

International trade remained resilient despite geopolitical uncertainty. Imports increased by 14 percent while exports rose by 9 percent. Traffic is now almost evenly balanced between short sea and deep sea services, highlighting Bilbao’s expanding global reach. New direct container services to Canada and South America’s west coast have also strengthened connections with strategic overseas markets.

The Bilbao Port Authority reported turnover of €39.8 million during the first half of 2026, a 6.4 percent increase over the previous year, while maintaining a strong financial position supported by €85 million in cash reserves.

Investment remains a major priority. Planned spending for 2026 totals €87.1 million as part of a wider €308.8 million programme running through 2030. Key projects include dock electrification, new berths, digitalisation, and energy infrastructure.

The first phase of the Onshore Power Supply programme has now been completed, allowing vessels to switch off auxiliary engines while alongside. Once fully implemented, Bilbao expects to become the first Atlantic Corridor port with fully electrified docks ahead of the European Union’s 2030 requirements, significantly reducing both emissions and noise levels across the port.