The Ferrol-San Cibrao Port Authority closed the first nine months of 2025 confirming a gradual recovery in traffic that began in the second quarter. From January 1 to September 30, operators moved 5,129,501 tons across the authority’s berths, a figure that is virtually in line with the 5,180,002 tons recorded in the same period of 2024. This performance supports the authority’s expectation of ending a transitional year with volumes similar to last year, against a backdrop of declining cargo movement across Spain’s state port system. In the third quarter alone (July–September), Ferrol and San Cibrao handled 1,713,689 tons, up 11.66% compared with 1,534,754 tons a year earlier. August and September were particularly favorable, posting year-on-year increases of 38% and 18%, respectively—improvements the authority says helped offset a previously reported 9.3% decline associated with August.
Recovery Consolidates Across Segments in Q3 2025
The composition of volumes is central to the upturn. The standout contributor was general cargo, which rose 45.01% over the first nine months to 725,586 tons, from 500,364 tons a year earlier. This surge helped lift overall performance despite headwinds in other segments. Meanwhile, liquid bulks stabilized at 1,747,487 tons through September, just 61,100 tons below the comparable 2024 tally. Together, these dynamics underscore a port complex that is gradually rebalancing its traffic mix. The third quarter’s momentum suggests that the recovery is broadening beyond a few isolated commodities and is beginning to reflect consistent operational throughput across the main terminals.
By contrast, solid bulks remain the principal drag, continuing to reflect the structural loss of coal flows. Through September, solid bulk traffic totaled 2,656,429 tons, down from 2,870,974 tons in the same period of 2024—a 7.47% decline. Even so, the Port Authority reports that the contraction moderated in the latest quarter, indicating that comparative pressures may be easing as the market absorbs the coal shortfall. The slower rate of decline in solid bulks, coupled with gains in other areas, was instrumental in the quarter-on-quarter improvement that helped narrow the year-to-date gap versus 2024.
Container activity has also regained momentum. The Yilport container terminal handled 216,230 tons in the first nine months, a 118.3% increase compared with 99,020 tons a year earlier. Measured in TEUs, volumes climbed 101.04% to 20,958 units, up from 10,424 in the same 2024 period. The authority nonetheless urges caution: container traffic is notably sensitive to market fluctuations and global geopolitical conditions, and the strong year-on-year gains follow a subdued start to 2025. Even with that caveat, the container rebound adds diversification to the port’s traffic base and complements the strength seen in general cargo and the stabilization in liquid bulks.
Management’s baseline outlook remains pragmatic. The Port Authority reiterates that 2025 is a transition year likely to close on par with 2024, while laying the groundwork for future growth. Central to this transformation is the rail connection, which the authority frames as an inflection point for the port’s competitiveness and hinterland integration. The expectation is that, as projects mature and logistics chains adapt, operational gains observed in the third quarter will become more evident in subsequent reporting periods, progressively shaping a more resilient traffic portfolio.
Methodologically, the reported figures encompass combined traffic at the ports of Ferrol and San Cibrao managed by the authority, covering the period from January 1 to September 30, 2025, with year-on-year comparisons to 2024. The data indicate that the recovery is not confined to a single month or commodity, but rather reflects a broader pattern consolidating across key segments. In a national context of lower throughput, maintaining volumes close to last year’s levels while achieving double-digit growth in the third quarter is a notable performance signal—albeit one tempered by the continuing challenge in solid bulks and the inherent volatility of containerized trade.
