Traffic with Morocco · 2025
26.3 million tonnes
Unloaded from Morocco
10.7 million tonnes
Loaded for Morocco
15.6 million tonnes
Rank among countries of origin and destination
3rd
What the data say · 2025
Spanish ports handled 26.3 million tonnes of cargo with Morocco in 2025, 3.6% more than in 2024. By volume it ranks 3rd among the 211 countries and territories with traffic, with 6.1% of the tonnes exchanged with other countries.
Of that total, 10.7 million tonnes were unloaded from that country (6.9% more than in 2024) and 15.6 million tonnes were loaded for it (1.4% more than in 2024). Unloading accounts for 40.8% of the traffic and loading for 59.2%.
In 2025, 26 port authorities recorded traffic with Morocco.
The high point of the series, which starts in 1962, is 2023, with 26.5 million tonnes: 2025 was 0.7% below it.
Bahía de Algeciras ranks first among port authorities with 14.9 million tonnes in 2025 (8.3% more than in 2024). It is followed by Valencia (2.09 million) and Barcelona (1.62 million). Together, the three account for 70.8% of the total.
The largest increases were recorded by Barcelona (+17.8%), Bilbao (+14.9%) and Almería (+12.5%); the steepest falls by Cartagena (−21.1%), Huelva (−19.9%) and Motril (−15.0%). The comparison is limited to port authorities that account for at least 1% of the total, so that an extreme swing at a small player does not distort the picture.
The rest of the top ten are Castellón (4th, 1.5 million, +12.4%), Cartagena (5th, 1.43 million, −21.1%), Almería (6th, 822,996 tonnes, +12.5%), Huelva (7th, 820,872 tonnes, −19.9%), Las Palmas (8th, 522,868 tonnes, −13.6%), Tarragona (9th, 491,167 tonnes, +10.5%) and Motril (10th, 394,790 tonnes, −15.0%).
At the bottom of the table are Ferrol-San Cibrao (14,803 tonnes), Ceuta (9,766 tonnes) and Baleares (33 tonnes), out of a total of 26 port authorities with data.
The distribution is highly concentrated: the top five account for 82% of the total and 5 port authorities are enough to reach 80%, while the other 16 port authorities further down share the remaining 6.4%. 13 of the 26 port authorities with a comparison grew compared with 2024, 8 of them by double digits, and 13 fell.
Between 2006 and 2025 the figure went from 9.9 M to 26.3 M, an increase of 165.8% over 19 years (+5.3% a year on average). The best year was 2023 (26.5 M) and the worst 2006 (9.9 M).
Top 10 · Traffic with Morocco by port authority · 2025
Traffic with Morocco, year by year
Full table · 26 port authorities
| # | Port authorities | Total 2025 | Change on 2024 | Unloaded | Share | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bahía de Algeciras | 14.9 M | +8.3% | 6.85 M | 56.7% | Port |
| 2 | Valencia | 2.09 M | +8.1% | 306,131 | 7.9% | Port |
| 3 | Barcelona | 1.62 M | +17.8% | 390,932 | 6.2% | Port |
| 4 | Castellón | 1.5 M | +12.4% | 1.24 M | 5.7% | Port |
| 5 | Cartagena | 1.43 M | −21.1% | 39,105 | 5.4% | Port |
| 6 | Almería | 822,996 | +12.5% | 338,324 | 3.1% | Port |
| 7 | Huelva | 820,872 | −19.9% | 271,944 | 3.1% | Port |
| 8 | Las Palmas | 522,868 | −13.6% | 359,281 | 2.0% | Port |
| 9 | Tarragona | 491,167 | +10.5% | 94,737 | 1.9% | Port |
| 10 | Motril | 394,790 | −15.0% | 291,556 | 1.5% | Port |
| 11 | Bilbao | 280,541 | +14.9% | 64,727 | 1.1% | Port |
| 12 | A Coruña | 266,514 | −0.2% | 4,478 | 1.0% | Port |
| 13 | Vigo | 255,960 | +6.9% | 49,779 | 1.0% | Port |
| 14 | Avilés | 230,966 | +18.5% | 105,998 | 0.9% | Port |
| 15 | Gijón | 118,191 | −34.1% | 13,623 | 0.4% | Port |
| 16 | Santa Cruz de Tenerife | 115,477 | +52.5% | 64,226 | 0.4% | Port |
| 17 | Sevilla | 92,451 | −20.9% | 75,079 | 0.4% | Port |
| 18 | Málaga | 87,657 | −43.1% | 55,126 | 0.3% | Port |
| 19 | Bahía de Cádiz | 65,909 | +0.8% | 3,049 | 0.3% | Port |
| 20 | Santander | 54,553 | −24.0% | 45,028 | 0.2% | Port |
| 21 | Alicante | 43,148 | −29.9% | 17,339 | 0.2% | Port |
| 22 | Pasaia | 33,367 | −8.1% | 24,635 | 0.1% | Port |
| 23 | Marín y Ría de Pontevedra | 16,886 | +0.8% | 11,626 | 0.1% | Port |
| 24 | Ferrol-San Cibrao | 14,803 | −89.7% | 0 | 0.1% | Port |
| 25 | Ceuta | 9,766 | +8,176.3% | 9,697 | 0.0% | Port |
| 26 | Baleares | 33 | −99.8% | 0 | 0.0% | Port |
What this indicator measures
Every year, in its statistical yearbook, Puertos del Estado publishes the tonnes loaded at Spanish ports for each country and the tonnes unloaded from it, authority by authority. This page covers Morocco. These are tonnes of cargo crossing the quay, including transhipped containers, not the value in euros of what Spain buys and sells, so they do not match customs figures, which are in the Foreign Trade section.
Context
Morocco is the neighbour with which Spain shares the Strait of Gibraltar. A large part of the traffic consists of lorries and semi-trailers crossing by ferry between Algeciras and Tanger Med, together with transhipped containers and bulk cargo such as fertilisers and petroleum products. It is one of the few large partners with which loading outweighs unloading.
Frequently asked questions
How many tonnes do Spanish ports handle with Morocco?
26.3 million tonnes in 2025, 3.6% more than in 2024.
Which Spanish port handles the most cargo with Morocco?
Bahía de Algeciras, with 14.9 million tonnes in 2025, 56.7% of the total.
Which weighs more: cargo unloaded or cargo loaded?
Cargo loaded: 15.6 million tonnes in 2025, 59.2% of the total, compared with 10.7 million tonnes unloaded.
When is this data updated?
Puertos del Estado publishes one edition a year. Latest data available: 2025.
Source
Puertos del Estado. To explore the data in detail, use PortStats · cargo by country, annual series or see the original source.