(28 September 2016) – On the occasion of World Maritime Day, celebrated on 29 September under the theme “Shipping: indispensable to the world”, Eurostat is publishing a selection of data on international trade in goods by sea as well as on maritime freight transport.
In 2015, the value of EU trade in goods with third countries (non-EU countries) carried by sea was estimated at close to €1,777 bn, accounting for about 51% of EU trade in goods. In detail, 53% of EU imports entered the EU by sea, while shipping represented 48% of EU exports to third countries.
The use of maritime transport for EU trade in goods has slightly increased over the last ten years: in 2006, less than half (47%) of the EU trade in goods with third countries was conducted by sea.
Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg, all located on the North Sea coast, were the top 3 EU cargo ports in 2014, accounting together for almost a fifth (19.2%) of the gross weight of goods handled in EU ports.