by InTrieste
As 2024 nears its conclusion, the Port of Trieste has weathered a year marked by significant geopolitical and economic turbulence. Preliminary data for the first 11 months indicate stability and some growth, suggesting a positive trajectory despite global challenges including the Suez crisis, disruptions in the Red Sea, and Germany’s ongoing economic recession.
According to the port’s administration, Trieste handled 54.4 million tons of cargo from January to November, a 6.42% increase over the same period in 2023. Energy shipments, particularly liquid bulk cargo, were a key driver of this growth, surging 9.74% to nearly 37.7 million tons.
The container sector, initially hampered by global instability, has nearly matched 2023 figures, declining just 1.12% year-over-year in terms of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which totaled 770,323. Full TEUs increased by 3.75%, while empty container volumes declined by 11.90%. Transshipped containers—those moved directly from ship to ship—rose 5.88%.
Meanwhile, roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) traffic saw a slight dip, with 270,444 units handled, down 1.79%. However, calls from “motorways of the sea” vessels increased by 7.22%, bolstered by new service lines.
One notable challenge has been the collapse in solid bulk cargo, which dropped 72.64% due to the near absence of activity from Trieste’s steel sector. A silver lining came in the cereals subcategory, which grew by 5.69%, driven by demand from the local food industry.
The port’s rail operations faced setbacks, with the number of trains handled falling 12.47% to 7,261, largely due to disruptions from construction projects on international rail lines. However, key areas like Molo VI and the Cereal Terminal performed well, and the Cervignano Interport reported nearly 20% growth in train traffic, reflecting resilience within the broader intermodal system.
Trieste also posted gains in cruise ship traffic, welcoming over 500,000 passengers—a nearly 9% increase from the previous year.
At the nearby Port of Monfalcone, total volumes fell 8.23% to 3.28 million tons, reflecting its vulnerability to geopolitical disruptions and downturns in the automotive sector. Despite these challenges, November showed signs of recovery, with overall volumes up 40.24% compared to the same month in 2023. Notable growth was seen in cereals (+59.08%) and chemicals (+34.45%), though commercial vehicle shipments continued to struggle, declining by 26.09%.
In rail traffic, Monfalcone handled 1,705 trains, a slight decrease of 5.01%, yet still achieved its second-best result in recent years.
Vittorio Torbianelli, the extraordinary commissioner of the Port System Authority of the Eastern Adriatic, acknowledged the difficulties of the year but expressed optimism. “This year is closing on a positive note, particularly given the challenging geopolitical and economic landscape,” he said. Torbianelli highlighted the launch of new Ro-Ro services and an uptick in workdays at the Port Labor Agency of Trieste, which recorded an average increase of 200 workdays per month compared to 2023.
Final figures for 2024 will be available in January, but for now, port officials and workers are hopeful for the year ahead, citing the collaborative efforts that have sustained operations during a period of significant uncertainty.
