Year to date · January–August 2026
381,467 transport units (lorries, trailers and platforms)
August 2026 only
33,276 transport units (lorries, trailers and platforms)
First port
360,061 transport units (lorries, trailers and platforms)
In tonnes
9.02 million tonnes
What the data say · August 2026
The Spanish ports on the Strait (Bahía de Algeciras, including Tarifa, and Ceuta) handled 381,467 transport units (lorries, trailers and platforms) in the year to August 2026, 0.7% more than in the same period of 2025. In August alone, the figure was 33,276 transport units (lorries, trailers and platforms), 1% more than in August 2025.
The two Spanish ports on the Strait account for 17.7% of the Spanish port system’s ro-ro traffic in the year to August 2026, which totalled 2.16 million transport units (lorries, trailers and platforms).
In tonnes: 9.02 million tonnes in the year to August 2026, 1.5% more than a year earlier. Bahía de Algeciras ranks first on this measure, with 8.62 million tonnes.
Bahía de Algeciras ranks first among port authorities on the Strait with 360,061 transport units (lorries, trailers and platforms) in the year to August 2026 (0.8% more than a year earlier). It is followed by Ceuta (21,406 transport units (lorries, trailers and platforms)).
Of the 8 months of 2026 with data, 4 are above the same month of 2025 and 4 below; over the last three months (June, July, August) the figure is up 4.3% on the same months of 2025; the largest year-on-year difference was in January (down 11.4%); the highest point in the series was March, at 54,944, and the lowest August, at 33,276.
Ranking of port authorities on the Strait · year to date 2026
Month by month · 2026 vs 2025 · Strait of Gibraltar
Full table · 2 port authorities on the Strait
| # | Port authorities on the Strait | Jan–Aug 2026 | YoY change | August | Monthly change | Share | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bahía de Algeciras | 360,061 | +0.8% | 30,247 | −0.4% | 94.4% | Port |
| 2 | Ceuta | 21,406 | −0.7% | 3,029 | +17.2% | 5.6% | Port |
What this indicator measures
ITUs (intermodal transport units) count each lorry, trailer or platform loaded onto or off a ro-ro ship. On the Strait they almost entirely reflect freight with Morocco via Tanger Med: fruit and vegetables heading to Europe, and industrial components and consumer goods heading south. This page adds up Bahía de Algeciras (Algeciras and Tarifa) and Ceuta.
Context
The Strait is Spain’s first ro-ro corridor and one of Europe’s main links with North Africa. Bahía de Algeciras handles more than 400,000 ITUs a year, with a strong peak during the winter fruit and vegetable season. Direct Morocco–Europe services (Tanger Med–Marseille, Tanger Med–Genoa) are the main threat to this traffic.
Frequently asked questions
How many lorries have crossed the Strait this year?
381,467 transport units (lorries, trailers and platforms) in the year to August 2026, 0.7% more than in the same period of 2025.
Which port on the Strait handles the most lorries?
Bahía de Algeciras, with 360,061 transport units (lorries, trailers and platforms) in the year to August 2026, 94.4% of the total.
When is this data updated?
Puertos del Estado publishes the data every month. Latest data available: August 2026.
Source
Puertos del Estado. To explore the data in detail, use PortStats · Bahía de Algeciras or see the original source.