The Port of Alicante closed 2025 with total traffic of 2.9m tonnes, down 6.9% year on year, as lower demand for aggregates reduced solid bulk volumes, according to the Port Authority of Alicante.
General cargo increased by 12.5% to 1.39m tonnes, supported by higher import and export flows linked to international services using intermodal chains. Imports rose by 37.8% and exports by 21.7%, with rail connections playing a central role in linking the port with inland logistics platforms and industrial areas in the province.
Container traffic reached 1.26m tonnes, up 9% compared with 2024. The port handled 193,416 TEU, a 7% increase and above the Spanish port system average. Most container volumes were moved via short sea shipping, particularly services to the Canary Islands and other Spanish ports, combined with rail freight services connecting the port terminals with inland destinations.
RORO traffic more than doubled, rising by 120% to over 87,000 tonnes. The growth followed the consolidation of services with the Middle East focused on tractor units and machinery, with rail used for onward distribution of equipment to logistics hubs outside the port area.
Solid bulk traffic fell by 20.4% to 1.43m tonnes due to weaker demand for aggregates, although the Port Authority reported a partial recovery in the final quarter. Despite its share of total volume, this segment remains less relevant to rail activity than containerised and RORO flows.
Rail-relevant maritime indicators also increased. Vessel calls rose by 12% to nearly 1,000, while gross tonnage climbed by 20.2% to 21.5m tonnes, reflecting the use of larger vessels feeding intermodal services that include rail for hinterland distribution.