What was Polish seaports performance in the first half of 2024?

The first six months of 2024 saw a decline in cargo handling at Polish seaports compared to the same period in 2023. Total cargo turnover reached 67.75 million tons, an 8.65% decrease year-over-year. All major ports experienced reductions, with the Port of Szczecin-Świnoujście seeing the largest drop of 2.17 million tons.

Key trends:

Liquid Fuels: A bright spot with 4.99% growth, totaling 25.48 million tons. The Port of Gdańsk, Poland’s largest fuel port, increased handling by 9.64% to 20.12 million tons. This growth is partly attributed to sanctions on Russian oil imports, leading to diversification of supply routes.
Coal: Significant decline of 63.46%, with only 4.45 million tons handled. This drop marks a return to pre-Ukraine war levels and is influenced by a government ban on coal imports by state-owned companies to support domestic mining.
Grain: Slight increase of 2.53%, with the Port of Gdynia maintaining its position as Poland’s and the Baltic region’s leading grain port.
Ore: Sharp decrease of 50.62%, primarily affecting the Port of Szczecin-Świnoujście.
Container Traffic: Overall growth of 8.28%, reaching 1.56 million TEUs. The Port of Gdańsk’s Baltic Hub terminal handled over 1 million TEUs, setting a new record for the first half-year.
Ro-Ro Cargo: 3.03% decrease in freight units, totaling 390,000 units. Passenger car handling also declined by 6.39%.
Ferry Passengers: All ports saw a reduction in regular passenger traffic, with Szczecin-Świnoujście experiencing the largest drop of 8.83%.

Port-specific highlights:

Port of Gdańsk: Despite overall cargo decline, it saw growth in liquid fuels, containers, and grain. The Baltic Hub terminal’s success underscores the importance of ongoing expansion projects.
Port of Gdynia: Maintained strong performance in grain handling and saw increases in container traffic, particularly at OT Port Gdynia and GCT terminals.
Port of Szczecin-Świnoujście: Faced challenges across multiple cargo types but saw potential improvements with the modernization of Chorzowskie Quay and a new ferry connection to Malmö.

Looking ahead, Polish ports are adapting to changing trade patterns and investing in infrastructure to enhance capacity and efficiency. The growth in container and liquid fuel handling demonstrates the ports’ resilience and ability to capture new opportunities amid global supply chain shifts.
However, the significant drop in coal imports and challenges in ro-ro and passenger traffic highlight the need for continued diversification and adaptation to evolving market conditions. As Polish ports navigate these changes, their performance will remain a key indicator of the country’s economic health and its role in regional and global trade networks. CopyRetryAdo it again but with 1500 wordsEditCertainly. Here’s a more detailed blog post in English, summarizing the key points from the Polish text in about 1500 words:
Polish Seaports Performance in the First Half of 2024: Challenges and Opportunities
The maritime industry serves as a vital barometer for global trade and economic health. In this context, the performance of Polish seaports in the first half of 2024 offers valuable insights into both regional and international trade dynamics. This period saw significant changes across various cargo categories, reflecting broader economic trends, geopolitical influences, and the ongoing evolution of supply chains.

Overall Performance:

The first six months of 2024 witnessed a notable decline in cargo handling at Polish seaports compared to the same period in 2023. Total cargo turnover reached 67.75 million tons, marking an 8.65% decrease year-over-year. This downturn affected all major ports, with the Port of Szczecin-Świnoujście experiencing the most substantial drop of 2.17 million tons. The Port of Gdańsk saw a 7.68% decrease in total cargo handling, while the Port of Gdynia reported a 7.24% reduction.
Key Cargo Categories

Liquid Fuels: A Bright Spot

Contrary to the overall trend, liquid fuels emerged as a growth sector, with a 4.99% increase totaling 25.48 million tons. The Port of Gdańsk, Poland’s largest fuel port, significantly boosted its handling by 9.64% to 20.12 million tons. The Naftoport terminal, a crucial component of Gdańsk’s fuel operations, continued its positive trajectory, building on its record-breaking performance from the previous year.
This growth can be largely attributed to the geopolitical landscape, particularly the sanctions imposed on Russian oil imports. The ban on seaborne crude oil imports from Russia (effective December 5, 2022) and petroleum products (from February 5, 2023) has necessitated a diversification of supply routes, benefiting Polish ports. The beginning of 2024 also saw the introduction of sanctions on LPG and LNG from Russia, potentially opening new opportunities for Polish ports in ensuring the country’s energy security.
The increased fuel handling has spurred investment, with plans underway to expand the Naftoport terminal. A new deep-water berth, known as „W” stand, is set to increase the terminal’s annual capacity by approximately 9 million tons.

Coal: Dramatic Decline

The most striking change was observed in coal handling, with a significant decline of 63.46%. Polish ports handled only 4.45 million tons of coal and coke in the first half of 2024, a stark contrast to the previous year. This drop was consistent across all major ports: Gdańsk (-61.1%), Szczecin-Świnoujście (-66.51%), and Gdynia (-70.95%).
This dramatic reduction represents a return to pre-Ukraine war levels, reminiscent of figures seen in 2020-2021 when first-half coal handling ranged between 4.5 and 5.0 million tons. The surge in coal imports during 2022-2023 was a direct response to the need for supply diversification following the outbreak of war in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions.

Grain: Steady Performance

The grain sector maintained its robust performance with a slight increase of 2.53%. While the Port of Gdańsk recorded the highest growth at 10.33%, the Port of Gdynia retained its position as Poland’s and the Baltic region’s leading grain port, handling 3.3 million tons in the first six months. The Port of Szczecin-Świnoujście was the only one to see a decrease in this category, with a 1.66% drop (-19,900 tons).

Other Bulk Cargo: Mixed Results

The 'other bulk’ category experienced an overall decline of 8.03%, totaling 3.79 million tons. None of the ports recorded growth in this segment, with the Port of Gdynia seeing the smallest decrease at 3.9% compared to the same period in 2023.
Ore handling witnessed a sharp decline of 50.62%, with Polish ports handling only 425,400 tons. This category is primarily managed by the Port of Szczecin-Świnoujście, which may see improvements following the modernization of Chorzowskie Quay, completed in May. The upgraded quay, with a new technical depth of 12.5 meters, can now accommodate larger bulk carriers carrying up to 55,000 tons of cargo.
Timber handling also decreased by 19.57% to 268,100 tons, continuing a downward trend from the record volumes seen in early 2022.

General Cargo and Containers: Growth Amidst Challenges

General cargo handling increased by 2.96% to 27.34 million tons. However, this growth was not uniform across all ports, with Szczecin-Świnoujście continuing to experience declines in ferry and ro-ro cargo (-5.0%).
Container traffic emerged as a particularly strong segment, with overall growth of 8.28%, reaching 1.56 million TEUs. This represents an increase of nearly 120,000 TEUs compared to the first half of 2023. The Port of Gdańsk’s Baltic Hub terminal was the standout performer, handling over 1 million TEUs and setting a new record for the first half-year. This success underscores the importance of the ongoing expansion project at Baltic Hub, which includes the construction of a third container terminal.
In the Port of Gdynia, OT Port Gdynia recorded the highest percentage increase (+26.2% year-over-year), although its volumes still represent less than 1% of the port’s total containerized cargo. The GCT terminal also saw significant growth (+18.5%), possibly linked to the launch of regular connections to the UK through the Poland Express Service (Ipex) by Ellerman City Liners.
The Port of Szczecin-Świnoujście was the only port to see a decrease in container handling, with a 6.87% drop representing 2,500 fewer TEUs.

Ro-Ro and Passenger Traffic: Facing Headwinds

Ro-Ro cargo saw a slight decline, with Polish ports handling 390,000 freight units, a 3.03% decrease from the previous year. The Port of Gdynia managed to achieve small gains, benefiting from both ferry traffic to Karlskrona and ro-ro connections to Hanko and the newly established route to Sodertalje, Sweden. The Port of Gdańsk also saw a minor increase in its ro-ro traffic to Nynashamn. However, Szczecin-Świnoujście experienced a 5.28% drop in ro-ro transport compared to the first half of 2023.
Passenger car handling also declined by 6.39% across all ports, with Szczecin-Świnoujście seeing the largest decrease of nearly 10%. Only the Port of Gdańsk reported an increase, though it’s worth noting that their statistics include both non-commercial ferry traffic and commercial car transport, unlike other ports which only report non-commercial ferry traffic.
Ferry passenger numbers decreased across all Polish ports. Szczecin-Świnoujście saw the largest decline of 8.83% (-42,200 passengers), while Gdynia and Gdańsk experienced drops of 3.2% (-8,000 passengers) and 4.83% (-3,000 passengers) respectively.

Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

The performance of Polish seaports in the first half of 2024 reflects a complex interplay of global economic conditions, geopolitical factors, and domestic policy decisions. While facing challenges in traditional bulk cargo sectors, particularly coal, the ports have demonstrated resilience and adaptability in other areas.
The growth in container traffic and liquid fuel handling highlights the ports’ ability to capture new opportunities amid shifting global supply chains. The ongoing expansion projects, such as the Baltic Hub terminal in Gdańsk and the modernization of Chorzowskie Quay in Szczecin, indicate a forward-looking approach to enhancing capacity and efficiency.
However, the significant drop in coal imports presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Polish ports to diversify their cargo mix. The decline in ro-ro and passenger traffic also underscores the need for continued adaptation to evolving market conditions and consumer behaviors.
As Polish ports navigate these changes, their performance will remain a key indicator of the country’s economic health and its role in regional and global trade networks. The ability to attract new shipping lines, as seen with the Finnlines connection to Malmö from Świnoujście, will be crucial in offsetting losses in traditional cargo segments.
Moreover, the ports’ role in ensuring energy security, particularly through increased liquid fuel handling, highlights their strategic importance beyond mere commercial considerations. As Poland continues to diversify its energy sources, the ports are likely to play an even more critical role in the coming years.
In conclusion, while the first half of 2024 presented significant challenges for Polish seaports, it also revealed their resilience and potential for growth in key areas. As global trade patterns continue to evolve, the ability of these ports to adapt, innovate, and invest in future-oriented infrastructure will be crucial in maintaining their competitive edge in the Baltic and European maritime landscape

Sources:

Actia Forum: https://actiaforum.pl

Namiary na Morze i Handel: https://www.namiary.pl/

Trade gov.pl: https://www.trade.gov.pl/