Italian ports have seen significant growth in 2022, both in cargo volumes and passenger numbers. For the two-year period 2023/24, the Mediterranean is advancing in international trade.
According to the latest issue of “Port Infographics 2023", Edited by Assoporti and SRM, study center of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group i Italian ports they viewed over 490 million last year tons traded, up 1,9% on 202, and 61,4 million passenger transited, of which 9 million were cruise passengers.
The newsletter, with updated statistics and data on maritime transport and port facilities, notes that the Italian port system confirmed by vocation multi-purpose, with the management last year of liquid bulk for 169 million tons, Ro-Ro for 120,9 million, container for 119,5 million, solid bulk for 61,1 million and "other cargo" for 19,7 million.
“Collaboration with SRM helps us interpret AdSP data,” he said Rodolfo Giampieri, president of Assoporti, “which confirm an important role in the Mediterranean, and translate them into strategies. In this phase of profound transformation of the world, ports can play an increasingly strategic and central role for the development of our nation". "Energy transition, investments and competition in the Mediterranean are just some of the phenomena that we have taken into consideration" said the general manager of SRM, Massimo Deandreis.
Italian ports have shown a greater resilience compared to other competitor areas. In the field Containers (taking into account calls with a movement of more than one million TEUs) Italian ports grew by 1,3% in 2022 against the decreases recorded by competitor areas from the Northern range, to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. It has also improved maritime connectivity of Italian ports with 4 ports of call present in the Top 15 of Mediterranean ports and a greater presence in the international network of container line connections which increases the competitiveness of the country system.
Strong presence of the sea in international trade
For Italy, the "dependence" on the sea is strong international trading: 39% of import/export takes place by ship for a value of 377 billion euros and maritime interchange showed an increase of +2022% in 38, 10 percentage points more than the performance of interchange as a whole .
China is confirmed as the first supplier for Italy
The first 5 categories of goods entering the country by sea concentrate 72% of maritime imports (oil & gas; metals; machinery; chemical products and textiles and clothing). The first 5 categories of goods leaving the country by sea concentrate 76% of maritime exports (machinery; refined products; chemical products; means of transport; food and beverages). There China is confirmed as the first supplier for Italy: it represents a fifth of the goods entering our country by sea. The United States are confirmed as a large outlet market for Italian exports by sea: a quarter of our goods leaving by ship are directed to the North American country.
Global shipping growing in 2023/24
Forecasts of world maritime transport report a growth in terms of tonnage equal to +1,6% for 2023 e +2,8% for 2024. Oil & Gas are the commodities that will meet the most favorable prospects, driven by the need for transport following the ongoing war. The area of the is advancing internationally Mediterranean: +3,5% growth forecasts for average annual container handling over the next 5 years against 2,8% worldwide.
