TRIESTE – The port of Trieste closed the first quarter of 2025 with a total cargo throughput of 13,589,957 tons, down 4.25% compared to the same period in 2024.
The decline is mainly due to the drop in liquid bulk (crude oil at the SIOT terminal), which totaled 8,656,600 tons (-12.34%), a result linked to scheduled maintenance at some of the refineries connected to the Transalpine Pipeline infrastructure.

On the other hand, positive results emerged in other strategic sectors. Container traffic hit a record high with 237,534 TEUs handled (+34.75%), marking the best first quarter in the history of the Trieste port. March alone, with 87,837 TEUs moved (+39.34%), was the best March result ever recorded over the past decade. Container traffic via Ro-Ro vessels also grew, reaching 31,717 TEUs (+11.30%).

General cargo gained momentum, reaching 4,903,832 tons (+14.62%), while Ro-Ro traffic remained solid with 77,618 units handled (+2.35%), and the number of Motorway of the Sea calls to/from Turkey increased from 209 to 227 (+8.61%).

The dry bulk segment ended the quarter with 29,525 tons handled (-26.32%), a figure reflecting the slowdown in industrial production across several European markets. However, there was a rebound in grain traffic, reaching 17,773 tons (+12.23%), and in metallurgical products, which doubled to 1,150 tons (+100.00%).

In terms of passenger traffic, cruise activity slowed with 2,370 passengers recorded in the quarter (-37.73%).

Rail traffic held steady with 2,084 trains operated during the period (-0.38%). This is a notable result given the infrastructural issues at key Alpine crossings—especially Brenner and Tarvisio—that affected the regularity of cross-border flows.

Turning to the port of Monfalcone, the first quarter of 2025 closed with a significant increase in volumes: a total of 1,196,847 tons were handled (+54.88%) compared to the same period in 2024, with all key indicators showing positive trends.

Dry bulk was the main growth driver, with 972,497 tons handled (+63.23%), with all subcategories contributing to the rise. Metallurgical products alone accounted for over 70% of Portorosega’s traffic, reaffirming their position as the top commodity category at the port and growing by +54.44% over 2024.

General cargo also performed well, reaching 224,350 tons (+26.76%), while commercial vehicle traffic totaled 24,445 units (+33.16%), strengthening the port’s role as a logistics hub for the automotive and Ro-Ro sectors.

Finally, rail traffic saw 537 trains operated in the quarter (+15.24%).