Cargo and Passenger vessels entering Malta’s ports has doubled over the past decade, marking the highest increase among EU member states, according to Eurostat data. This 100% surge far exceeds the EU average growth of less than 10%. Croatia followed with a 40% increase in vessel entries.
In 2023, Malta recorded 45,949 port calls, a significant rise from 22,882 in 2012. Compared to 2022, vessel traffic grew by 5.5%, the fourth-highest increase in the EU.
Across the EU, a total of 2.2 million vessels arrived at major ports in 2023, reflecting a 1.5% year-on-year increase. Greece led with 477,115 port calls, followed closely by Italy with 449,131. Slovenia recorded the lowest number of vessel arrivals at 1,760.
Malta’s ports handled a total of 277,662 gross tonnage in 2023, marking a 28.5% increase from 2013. Additionally, Gozo’s Mgarr port ranked as the 17th busiest maritime port in the EU in terms of vessel arrivals.
Source: Times of Malta
