Valenciaport recorded an increase in container traffic during September 2026, supported by stronger import and export volumes, although transshipment activity continued to weigh on its overall performance for the first nine months of the year.
According to figures released by the Port Authority of Valencia (APV) on October 23, the port system handled 498,837 TEUs in September, representing a 5.48% increase compared with the same month in 2025.
Total cargo throughput also increased by 2.05% to 6.6 million metric tons, reflecting stronger activity across the facilities of Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia.
Exports of full containers rose by 5.68% during September, while imports increased by 11.68%. Meanwhile, full-container transshipment volumes declined by just 0.82% to 179,002 units, marking a more moderate decrease than the trend recorded over the first nine months.
Despite the positive monthly performance, cumulative container traffic remained slightly below the previous year’s level.
Between January and September 2026, Valenciaport handled approximately 4.2 million TEUs, representing a year-on-year decline of 0.91%.
Total cargo throughput during the nine-month period reached 59.2 million metric tons, down 2.13% compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
The performance of full containers varied considerably between imports, exports and transshipment.
Import volumes increased by 10.02% to 856,431 TEUs, while exports edged up by 0.31% to 681,113 TEUs.
In contrast, full containers handled in transit declined by 9.81% to 1,552,065 units, continuing to place pressure on overall container traffic.
The September figures nevertheless indicate a moderation in the rate of decline in transshipment activity, alongside stronger import and export movements.
Over the latest rolling 12-month period, Valenciaport handled 5,623,753 TEUs, almost unchanged from the preceding 12 months, while total cargo throughput reached 78.7 million metric tons, down 1.56%.
By cargo category, solid bulk volumes increased by 4.58% during the first nine months, liquid bulk rose by 0.85%, and non-containerised general cargo grew by 2.40%.
Containerised cargo tonnage, however, declined by 3.80%, reflecting the continued weakness in transshipment activity.
China remained Valenciaport’s largest international market for container traffic during the January–September period.
Container volumes associated with China increased by 15.07% to 714,691 TEUs, while cargo tonnage rose by 15.75% to 7.66 million metric tons.
The United States ranked second in container traffic, with 246,237 TEUs, representing a decline of 14.71% compared with the same period in 2025.
Algeria followed with 225,257 TEUs, down 7.22%, while traffic associated with Turkey decreased by 18.98% to 142,081 units.
The contrasting developments highlight differences in the performance of Valenciaport’s major international trading markets during 2026.
In terms of cargo tonnage, Italy was the port system’s second-largest international market, with 4.53 million metric tons, followed by the United States with 4.38 million metric tons.
Beyond container operations, Valenciaport reported growth in freight vehicle traffic during the first nine months of the year.
A total of 404,543 freight vehicles passed through its facilities between January and September, representing an increase of 8.77% compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
On a rolling 12-month basis, freight vehicle traffic reached 557,091 units, up 5.92%.
Overall, the latest figures show stronger monthly container activity and continued growth in import volumes, while the decline in transshipment remains a significant factor affecting Valenciaport’s year-to-date performance.
