Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges are Europe's busiest ports, handling 641 million tonnes of goods
Eurostat data identifies Rotterdam as the largest EU port, moving 397.3 million tonnes, followed by Antwerp-Bruges at 243.7 million tonnes. Hamburg ranks third with significantly lower volume.
Maritime transport remains essential for global trade, with approximately 13 billion tonnes of goods moved by sea in 2024. European ports processed roughly 3.4 billion tonnes, representing 26% of worldwide totals. The EU Blue Economy Observatory confirms that nearly 90% of the bloc's external freight trade relies on shipping. This sector includes short sea routes covering the Baltic and Mediterranean, alongside deep sea intercontinental links.
Eurostat data for 2024 designates two specific cities as the busiest in the EU based on total sea cargo volumes. Rotterdam, Netherlands, processed the highest volume at 397.3 million tonnes. Antwerp-Bruges, Belgium, followed with 243.7 million tonnes. Hamburg, Germany, occupied the third position with 97 million tonnes handled. These figures highlight the dominant role of these specific facilities within European logistics.
