Alicante remains a standout among Spanish ports with a record year in 2022, handling a remarkable number of deposits and solid growth across the board. The port moved well over two hundred thousand containers, reaching a historic high that surpassed expectations and underscoring its rising role in maritime logistics.
Across Spain, only a few ports reported positive movement in container traffic. Alongside Alicante, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Cádiz posted gains, while Valencia and several others faced decreases. The latest figures from Puertos del Estado show Alicante leading the growth chart, with Tenerife and Cádiz also showing positive, albeit smaller, gains.
The port will transport 1,600 containers weekly to the Canary Islands, Turkey, Malta and Marseille
Alicante’s facilities demonstrated capacity that nearly matched the container activity seen in Malaga, Vigo, and the Cádiz area. The port’s strength is also reflected in goods volume, which climbed to 3.2 million tonnes in 2022, a 22 percent rise over 2021. This level marks the best performance since 2018, after a gradual decline in the intervening years.
Port Authority sources explain that past disruptions in 2020 and 2021 led to reduced cargo and container traffic as alternative docks could not match capacity. As operations ramp up, the port’s current utilization sits at roughly 75 percent, with projections to reach full capacity in 2023, a shift that could amplify 2022 results.
Particle emissions
The port’s new ships help cut particle emissions dramatically toward near-zero levels while preserving high loading speed and capacity. This enables more operations and greater yearly throughput.
Solid mass traffic surpassed 1.6 million tonnes, according to State Ports data, a 27 percent increase from 2021. The record movement of goods and containers reflects strong market demand and the port’s expanding role in multimodal logistics.
The new container terminal in the port of Alicante will be connected by train to the north of Spain and Barcelona
Port Authority President Julián López Milla notes that although the terminal is modest within the Spanish port system, its diversification strategy—covering bulk handling, freight traffic, and ship movements—drives positive results despite the challenging economic environment of recent years.
The port’s broader activity extends beyond freight. In 2022 Alicante’s cruise segment saw 60 stopovers and 117,434 passengers; plans call for around 87 stops this year with total passenger numbers near 200,000, a 21 percent increase. A strong bet for the cruise schedule isMSC Cruises choosing Alicante as a departure port, with 33 sailings planned for this year and an expectation to maintain that level for the next two years.
The cruise passenger profile shows most travelers around 46, with families and travelers from England, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. The typical spend centers on gastronomy and shopping, reflecting a vibrant cruise tourism pillar alongside freight activity.
As the port continues to expand its rail connections to northern Spain and to Barcelona, Alicante strengthens its position as a multi-modal hub. This integration supports both cargo and tourism, contributing to a resilient and growing port economy.
[Port Authority data, 2022-2023].