In 2024, Italian ports handled a total of 480.7 million tonnes of goods, with a slight increase in +1.3% on the previous year which was driven by the rise +5.6% in containerized traffic. The latter is amounted to 121.8 million tonnes and was built with a container handling of 11,733,609 TEUs, with a growth of +3.9% over 2023 which was produced by the sustained increase of +14.9% in transhipment traffic amounted to 5,002,358 TEUs, while import-export containers decreased by -3.1% to 6,731,251 TEUs. In the sector of miscellaneous goods, moreover, rolling stock increased by +0.8% having totaled 122.4 million tons, while goods conventional fuel, with 17.8 million tonnes, recorded a decrease of -4.0%. In the bulk cargo, liquid cargoes amounted to 164.8 million tonnes (+1.5%) and those solids at 48.9 million tonnes (-5.8%).

The data released today by the Association of Italian Ports (Assoporti) highlight that, among the different port systems managed by the Italian Port System Authorities, in 2024 The largest increase in traffic was recorded by the ports of Venice and Chioggia managed by the Port Authority of the Adriatic Sea which handled 24.9 million tons of loads, with an increase of +8.3% over 2023. Following the ports of the Port Authority of Western Sicily with 11.6 million tons (+7.6%), the ports of call of the Port Authority of the Eastern Adriatic with 63.1 million tons (+6.2%), those of the Port Authority of the Tyrrhenian Sea Southern and Ionian with 46.0 million tons (+5.8%), the ports of the Port Authority of Eastern Sicily with 32.8 million tons (+4.3%), those of the Central Tyrrhenian Port Authority with 31.9 million tons (+2.5%), the ports of the Port Authority of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea with 39.2 million tons (+1.7%), the ports of the Port Authority of Sardinia with 41.6 million tons (+1.7%), the port ports of the Port Authority of Western Liguria with 63.8 million tons (+1.2%), the ports of the Central Adriatic Port Authority with 11.3 million tons (+0.4%) and those of the Adriatic Port Authority Centre-North with 25.5 million tonnes (+0.2%).

Last year, the sharpest drop in traffic was was accused by the port of Taranto managed by the Port Authority of the Ionian Sea which handled 12.1 million tons (-17.1%) followed by ports of the Port Authority of the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea with 13.1 million of tons (-6.5%), by those of the Adriatic Port Authority Southern with 17.1 million tons (-7.7%), from ports of the Port Authority of Eastern Liguria with 17.1 million tons (-1.4%) and by the ports of the Port Authority of the Strait with 31.2 million tons (-0.3%).

In 2024, ferry passenger traffic recorded an increase of +3.4% having been 19.3 million people and a growth was also marked by cruise traffic with 13.8 million passengers (+3.7%).

"Traffic statistics, relating to the 2024 final balance - commented the president of Assoporti, Rodolfo Giampieri - confirm the excellent resilience of our port system. For commercial traffic, I would say that a year has really passed complicated from a geopolitical point of view that has had no doubt Reflections on the economy and maritime routes. Our airports have had to reorganize itself continuously to balance the continuous disruptions that have occurred, mostly due to delays and lengthening travel times. Currently, there are We are facing a 2025 that presents some concerns: the Suez Canal shows no sign of picking up the pace and the announcement of a Trade wars are phenomena that are not good for our system production and logistics, which is faced with new challenges to be overcome, which will have in the speed of response the element decisive to remain competitive. To be emphasized - he added Giampieri - that the passenger data are completely positive and act as a barometer for the excellent performance of the tourism sector of the country. Investments in infrastructure, digitalisation and simplification reforms remain the imperatives on which work with great determination".