Record container traffic at the Port de Barcelona during the first half

Port activity is slowly overcoming the crisis caused by the pandemic. This is confirmed by the results obtained by the Barcelona infrastructure during the first half of 2021, a period in which it registered a historical record in container traffic, with 1.8 million units, 31% more than a year ago. It is also above the 1.7 million of 2019 ---a 4.2%---. "We are on the path to recovery," defended the president of the Port of Barcelona, Damià Calvet, in what was his first presentation of results.

A recovery that is also being transferred to total traffic, which has stood at 32.7 million tons, almost 17% more than during the first six months of 2020, although it is still 5% below 2019. This figure is explained by the negative trends being registered by some traffics such as vehicles, bulk liquids and, especially, passengers, as Calvet pointed out.

Specifically, passenger traffic continues to be the most affected by the covid crisis, taking into account the paralysis that cruise activity has experienced until mid-June. The fall compared to the first half of 2020 has been 43.7%, with only 240,904 passengers. Ferries have accounted for a good part of the passenger traffic, with a total of 238,054, and have grown by 4%. This activity, unlike cruises, resumed in June 2020 and has been progressively recovering.

As for cruises, it was not until June 26 that the season started, with the arrival of the MSC Grandiosa. Other shipping companies such as Costa Cruceros and Royal Caribbean have joined the resumption, but are still far from pre-pandemic figures. In fact, the Port of Barcelona estimates that it will only receive between 75 and 100 cruise calls throughout 2021, with about 200,000 cruise passengers on board.

The revenues of the Port of Barcelona are also leaving behind the shock of a year ago. During the first half, they have recovered by 7% compared to 2020, reaching 73.2 million euros. Despite this, the turnover is still 15% lower compared to pre-pandemic results. Likewise, the operating result has been 13 million euros, 147% more than that obtained during the first six months of 2020, but still 31% below 2019.

The Hermitage project remains entrenched

A matter that Calvet has inherited from the previous mandate has been the Hermitage project. It is still far from being resolved, after the promoters, the Port of Barcelona and the Barcelona City Council have filed cross-appeals to assert their respective positions. "There is a will to work together and find solutions," Calvet assured, pointing out that both the council and the Port want to provide cultural uses for this area of the Barcelona coast, in addition to emphasizing that it is always possible to backtrack on the filing of appeals.