The first half of 2026 shows the traditional giants are holding volume but barely growing, while a handful of secondary ports are pulling ahead. For Australian exporters and importers, that split is starting to influence transit times, equipment availability, and which gateways make sense for different lanes.
Data from major port authorities and industry reports show…
Rotterdam (Netherlands)
212.0 million tonnes total cargo in H1 2026
+0.4% year on year
Containers essentially flat: โ0.1% in TEU
AntwerpโBruges (Belgium)
133.9 million tonnes total cargo
โ2.4% year on year
Containers down 1.5% in TEU, impacted by strikes and a quay spill
Hamburg (Germany)
56.1 million tonnes total cargo
โ3.1% year on year
Containers: 4.0 million TEU, down 3.8%
US flows down 13.5%, liquid bulk down 14%
Bremerhaven (Germany)
34.5 million tonnes total cargo
+5.9% year on year
Containers: 2.6 million TEU, up 5.7%
Algeciras (Spain)
Containers around 2.4 million TEU in H1
+3% year on year in TEU, despite a slight dip in total tonnage
Gdaลsk (Poland)
Highlighted in regional reports as a growth port in H1 2026
Container throughput near 2.8 million TEU, with strong yearโonโyear gains
Whatโs Driving the 2026 Split?
1. Big Gateways Are Flat to Slightly Down
Rotterdam and AntwerpโBruges together still handle a huge share of Europeโs seaborne trade, but H1 2026 shows…
Rotterdam: volume flat
AntwerpโBruges: down on both total cargo and containers
That reflects a mix of softer demand on some trades, operational disruptions (strikes, incidents), and carriers rebalancing services across a wider set of ports.
2. German Ports Are Diverging
Hamburgโs โ3.1% total cargo and โ3.8% container drop in H1 2026 contrast sharply with Bremerhavenโs +5.9% total cargo and +5.7% container growth.
3. Southern and Eastern Gateways Gaining Ground
Ports like Algeciras, Valencia, Gdaลsk are seeing steady or rising container volumes even as some northern hubs stall.
This trend is amplified by geopolitical disruptions (Middle East tensions, Red Sea rerouting), which have pushed carriers to test alternatives.
For Australian Shippers, it is recommended that you revisit your primary European gateway if your European discharge has been…
~ Rotterdam, it is still a solid core gateway, but donโt assume itโs the fastest or cheapest option for every inland destination.
~ AntwerpโBruges, is strong for Benelux, northern France, and western Germany, but factor in recent labour and operational disruptions when planning timeโcritical cargo.
~ Hamburg, if youโre seeing longer dwell times or fewer direct calls, consider testing Bremerhaven or even Wilhelmshaven (which saw very strong container growth in H1 2026) for German and Central European lanes.
Regularly reviewing port pair options can uncover faster or more reliable routings that werenโt optimal 12โ24 months ago.
๐ธ and reference https://trans.info/en/european-ports-h1-2026-497216
