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Maritime and port strategies as state policies: an introductory approach
By Ricardo Sánchez (Universidad de los Andes, Colombia, Kühne Professorial Chair in Logistics, School of Management) and Martín Sánchez-Salvá (Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina) Core concepts and distinctions A national maritime strategy is a high-level policy set out primarily by a conceptual framework document, designed to guide action towards a long-term vision for the maritime sector; it sets priorities and organizes goals and instruments aimed at competitiveness, efficiency, security,...
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Port-city integration
The “Climate Neutral Blue Cities by 2030” Conference was organised by the Municipality of Limassol in the framework of the EU Mission for 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030, with the support of the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters. Under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026, the conference brought together European and local leaders, policy-makers, and experts to explore how port and coastal cities can rapidly advance towards climate neutrality. PortEconomics,...
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Commission unveils new EU Ports Strategy
The European Commission adopted the EU Ports Strategy, a comprehensive framework to step up the competitiveness, resilience, security, and sustainability of Europe’s ports. The Strategy puts forward actions focused on five priorities to address the most pressing challenges: Strengthen competitiveness, innovation and digitalisation To improve coherence and coordination, the Commission will develop criteria and guiding principles for EU funding and investments in third-country ports. The Commission...
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PortGraphic: Top-15 EU container ports in Q3 2025
By Theo Notteboom Following a strong recovery in 2024 after a challenging 2023, the first nine months of 2025 reveal a shift in growth dynamics across the top 15 EU container ports: Only three ports achieved double-digit growth: Gdansk leads with an impressive 21.7% increase, largely driven by the launch of its newest terminal at the Baltic Hub. Gioia Tauro continues its upward trajectory, fueled by MSC’s sustained investment and operations. Bremerhaven tops 10% growth and is expected to move from the seventh place in 2024 to the...
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Maritime transport in net zero
The maritime transport sector is not yet serious about decarbonisation. Policy targets remain vague regarding a commitment to full decarbonisation by 2050, while there is currently no prospect of replacing the existing fossil-fuelled fleet by this date. Even if this were likely, there is little prospect of the availability of sufficient alternative fuel to power these engines. It is becoming common to describe shipping, like aviation, as a ‘harder-to-abate’ sector (Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), 2018). Excuses are already in place,...
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Portgraphic: Top-15 EU container ports in H1 2025
Following the strong recovery of European container ports in 2024 after the turbulence of 2023, the first half of 2025 reveals a reshuffling of growth dynamics across the top 15 EU container ports. While overall volumes remain steady, the latest figures highlight significant regional divergences and notable winners. PortEconomics member Theo Notteboom analyses, the data shows both continuity and shifts in Europe’s container port hierarchy. ✅ Baltic Hub propels Gdansk to the topGdansk leads the European ranking in terms of...
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Portgraphic: fleet capacity (owned/chartered) of container shipping lines
By Theo Notteboom The global container shipping fleet has experienced significant growth over the past few decades, driven by the steady rise in international trade. Shipping lines have expanded their fleets either through organic growth—as in the case of MSC—or through a combination of organic growth and mergers & acquisitions, like Maersk. Today, the top 20 container carriers collectively operate a fleet (including both owned and chartered vessels) with a total capacity of 30 million TEU. Three years ago, this figure...
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