Traffic with the United Kingdom · 2025
11.4 million tonnes
Unloaded from the United Kingdom
4.85 million tonnes
Loaded for the United Kingdom
6.58 million tonnes
Rank among countries of origin and destination
10th
What the data say · 2025
Spanish ports handled 11.4 million tonnes of cargo with the United Kingdom in 2025, 2.9% less than in 2024. By volume it ranks 10th among the 211 countries and territories with traffic, with 2.6% of the tonnes exchanged with other countries.
Of that total, 4.85 million tonnes were unloaded from that country (11.5% more than in 2024) and 6.58 million tonnes were loaded for it (11.3% less than in 2024). Unloading accounts for 42.4% of the traffic and loading for 57.6%.
In 2025, 27 port authorities recorded traffic with the United Kingdom.
The high point of the series, which starts in 1962, is 1997, with 15.3 million tonnes: 2025 was 25.1% below it.
Bilbao ranks first among port authorities with 2.06 million tonnes in 2025 (19.2% less than in 2024). It is followed by Santander (1.48 million) and Bahía de Algeciras (922,729 tonnes). Together, the three account for 39.1% of the total.
The largest increases were recorded by A Coruña (+222.3%), Cartagena (+198.7%) and Motril (+56.2%); the steepest falls by Gijón (−28.3%), Ferrol-San Cibrao (−27.9%) and Huelva (−23.8%). 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 Las Palmas (4th, 795,641 tonnes, +0.5%), Pasaia (5th, 641,220 tonnes, −6.1%), Gijón (6th, 607,697 tonnes, −28.3%), Valencia (7th, 571,541 tonnes, −18.6%), Tarragona (8th, 517,833 tonnes, −6.5%), Barcelona (9th, 485,551 tonnes, −20.1%) and Cartagena (10th, 457,606 tonnes, +198.7%).
At the bottom of the table are Marín y Ría de Pontevedra (11,028 tonnes), Alicante (9,947 tonnes) and Baleares (1,595 tonnes), out of a total of 27 port authorities with data.
The distribution is concentrated: the top five account for 51.6% of the total and 12 port authorities are enough to reach 80%, while the other 17 port authorities further down share the remaining 25.3%. 15 of the 27 port authorities with a comparison grew compared with 2024, 10 of them by double digits, and 12 fell.
Between 2006 and 2025 the figure went from 11.8 M to 11.4 M, a decrease of 3.5% over 19 years (−0.2% a year on average). The best year was 2019 (14.2 M) and the worst 2012 (9.9 M).
Top 10 · Traffic with the United Kingdom by port authority · 2025
Traffic with the United Kingdom, year by year
Full table · 27 port authorities
| # | Port authorities | Total 2025 | Change on 2024 | Unloaded | Share | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bilbao | 2.06 M | −19.2% | 678,951 | 18.0% | Port |
| 2 | Santander | 1.48 M | +2.5% | 369,588 | 13.0% | Port |
| 3 | Bahía de Algeciras | 922,729 | −13.9% | 615,895 | 8.1% | Port |
| 4 | Las Palmas | 795,641 | +0.5% | 730,669 | 7.0% | Port |
| 5 | Pasaia | 641,220 | −6.1% | 272,225 | 5.6% | Port |
| 6 | Gijón | 607,697 | −28.3% | 16,712 | 5.3% | Port |
| 7 | Valencia | 571,541 | −18.6% | 124,939 | 5.0% | Port |
| 8 | Tarragona | 517,833 | −6.5% | 295,180 | 4.5% | Port |
| 9 | Barcelona | 485,551 | −20.1% | 126,042 | 4.2% | Port |
| 10 | Cartagena | 457,606 | +198.7% | 447,908 | 4.0% | Port |
| 11 | Bahía de Cádiz | 431,708 | +46.6% | 116,768 | 3.8% | Port |
| 12 | A Coruña | 407,081 | +222.3% | 174,307 | 3.6% | Port |
| 13 | Sevilla | 357,544 | +23.1% | 289,116 | 3.1% | Port |
| 14 | Vigo | 251,310 | +13.0% | 76,438 | 2.2% | Port |
| 15 | Málaga | 232,277 | +45.3% | 26,159 | 2.0% | Port |
| 16 | Almería | 226,195 | +12.4% | 9,773 | 2.0% | Port |
| 17 | Castellón | 189,297 | +37.9% | 164,282 | 1.7% | Port |
| 18 | Ferrol-San Cibrao | 178,764 | −27.9% | 71,413 | 1.6% | Port |
| 19 | Huelva | 163,966 | −23.8% | 79,194 | 1.4% | Port |
| 20 | Motril | 121,824 | +56.2% | 30,479 | 1.1% | Port |
| 21 | Vilagarcía | 96,427 | +7.6% | 5,003 | 0.8% | Port |
| 22 | Avilés | 95,869 | +6.8% | 22,348 | 0.8% | Port |
| 23 | Ceuta | 65,254 | +1,076.0% | 62,268 | 0.6% | Port |
| 24 | Santa Cruz de Tenerife | 48,055 | −58.3% | 33,839 | 0.4% | Port |
| 25 | Marín y Ría de Pontevedra | 11,028 | +2.4% | 4,334 | 0.1% | Port |
| 26 | Alicante | 9,947 | −87.6% | 0 | 0.1% | Port |
| 27 | Baleares | 1,595 | −13.0% | 1,364 | 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 the United Kingdom. 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
Ferry and ro-ro services from Santander and Bilbao to British ports, short-sea containers and liquid bulk make up traffic with the United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
How many tonnes do Spanish ports handle with the United Kingdom?
11.4 million tonnes in 2025, 2.9% less than in 2024.
Which Spanish port handles the most cargo with the United Kingdom?
Bilbao, with 2.06 million tonnes in 2025, 18% of the total.
Which weighs more: cargo unloaded or cargo loaded?
Cargo loaded: 6.58 million tonnes in 2025, 57.6% of the total, compared with 4.85 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.