La Asociación Española de Promoción del Transporte Marítimo de Corta Distancia (TMCD), SPC Spain, has discussed in its latest board meeting the data obtained from the TMCD Statistical Observatory corresponding to the year 2025, which highlights the impact that new environmental regulations are having on Short Sea Shipping.
In global TMCD traffic (which includes cabotage and bulk), there has been a year-on-year decrease of 4.3%. The notable drop in external traffic (6.4%) could not be offset by the increase in cabotage (2.9%). By form of presentation, ro-ro general cargo traffic was the only one that experienced growth (2.2%) thanks to cabotage.
International ro-ro TMCD (excluding vehicles under cargo regime) recorded 25.1 million tonnes (Mt) transported in 2025, representing a decrease of 0.8% compared to 2024, although with differences between façades: the Atlantic decreased by a notable 8.7%, while the Mediterranean recorded a minimal increase of 0.6%. These data point to the growing impact of European emissions regulations on certain maritime traffics.
Decrease with Italy and increase with Morocco
From the analysis by country of origin and destination, it is observed how this stagnation on the Mediterranean façade is mostly attributable to the decline in flows with Italy (6.0%) only offset by the increase in traffic with Morocco (4.6%). Growth is observed with Algeria and Tunisia, particularly marked with Algeria (32.4% and 15.5% respectively) although with very small absolute figures.
For its part, the significant decline on the Atlantic façade affects traffic with all trading partner countries, especially with Belgium (26.4%), but also with France (9.6%) and Ireland (7.3%). The United Kingdom has also reduced its traffic, but to a lesser extent (2.2%). International TMCD of vehicles under cargo regime, with 3.2 Mt (≈ 1.4 million vehicles) in 2025, shows a decrease of 7.7%, following the trend shown in 2024.
The supply of TMCD alternative to road transport in 2025 shows a year-on-year variation in offered capacity similar on both façades: a decrease of 16.6% on the Atlantic, going from 3.0 to 2.5 million linear metres, following the growth of the previous year, and a reduction of 11.0% on the Mediterranean façade, from 6.4 to 5.7 million linear metres, maintaining the trend of 2024, where it fell by 10.2%.
Turning point
Regarding Motorways of the Sea, the Atlantic façade offers two Motorways of the Sea – both connecting with the United Kingdom, there is a loss in the number of Motorways of the Sea due to the reduced frequency of some services and, therefore, the offered capacity in this type of service is reduced. The Mediterranean façade increases to eight Motorways of the Sea, four with Morocco, two with Italy and two with Algeria – although with a reduction in its capacity compared to 2024 (5.7%).
According to SPC Spain, the data show a turning point in the evolution of TMCD in Spain, showing a decline compared to the sustained growth observed in previous years and pointing to the growing impact of European emissions regulations on certain traffics. After a period characterized by progressive expansion and consolidation of services, recent indicators reflect a loss of dynamism that compromises the progress achieved.
The entity requests that the evolution be subject to monitoring and evaluation in the review of the ETS Directive scheduled for 2026, especially due to its potential effects on the competitiveness of Short Sea Shipping.
Annual Conference in Santander
On the other hand, at the board of directors meeting, the date of November 25 has been set for the Annual Conference of the Spanish Association for the Promotion of Short Sea Shipping (SPC-Spain), which will be held in Santander.
