Bilbao breaks through 40m tonne mark

General cargo, with iron and steel again prominent, saw the greatest growth (+6%) to stand at 3.98m tonnes. The biggest increase, a year-on-year jump of 102%, came in trade with China, which for the first time became the Port’s biggest trading partner.

Solid bulk traffic grew up by 6% to stand at 5.83m tonnes. Russia is still Bilbao’s main market, followed by Brazil, and the principal goods carried were coal and coke, scrap and soy beans and powder. Liquid bulks increased by 2% to stand at 22.68m tonnes. Russia again led in this category, followed by Iran and Nigeria.

Traffic with European Atlantic countries increased by 3% and makes up almost half the total traffic at the Port of Bilbao. The UK is still its main international market for dry cargo, followed by Russia and the Netherlands. On long-distance routes Asian markets recorded outstanding growth, with China and India showing increases in dry cargo of 59% and 67% respectively. Other important growing markets are in the Americas, with the USA and Brazil leading in dry cargo.