Despite the geopolitical turmoil that is reshaping global shipping routes, Italy’s port sector is staying on course and picking up speed. In 2025, the country’s ports handled over 510 million tonnes of freight, recording a 3.5% increase on the previous year. According to the latest edition of “Port Infographics”, the monitoring report produced by Assoporti and SRM (a research centre affiliated with the Intesa Sanpaolo Group), the global logistics chain is under severe pressure, yet the “Sistema-Italia” (the Italian national development network) remains remarkably resilient.
The publication focuses on the so-called chokepoints – the strategic shipping lanes that have become the true barometers of the international crisis. In the Strait of Hormuz – a key chokepoint through which 37% of the world’s crude oil and 28% of its LPG passes – the severe tensions in the region have led to a sharp 89% drop in daily traffic in just a few months.
The situation is no better in the Suez Canal, which, last year, recorded traffic volumes 48% lower than in 2022. Shipping had to be rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope. This meant increasing sailing times by up to 120%, resulting in an additional 20 days at sea and a surge in logistics and bunkering costs. The situation is critical. Nearly 1,000 vessels are stranded in the Gulf, with goods worth an estimated $23.7 billion.
In this context, maritime transport remains the true backbone of the global economy, reaching a record total of 13 billion tonnes in 2025. Commodities account for the lion’s share: 74% of goods being transported by sea (over 9 billion tonnes) consist of liquid and solid bulk cargo. This figure also carries significant weight within the European Union, where liquid bulk cargo accounts for 37% of the traffic volumes it handles and solid bulk cargo for 20%.
In the face of this global shock, Italian ports are not only holding their own but are demonstrating excellent dynamism across all sectors. In 2025, they handled 510 million tonnes of goods, representing a 3.5% increase on 2024.
The growth is being driven by container traffic (+7.1%, reaching almost 13 million TEUs) and dry bulk cargo (+7.1%), whilst liquid bulk cargo recorded a 1.8% increase. Ro-Ro transport (ro-ro ferries) also performed excellently, with over 122 million tonnes, consolidating Italy’s leading position on Mediterranean routes supporting European supply chains. The passenger sector is also booming, skyrocketing to 75 million units, driven by over 14 million cruise passengers.
“The picture that emerges confirms the strength of the Italian port system in an extremely complex international context,” commented Roberto Petri, President of Assoporti. “These figures demonstrate the strategic value of our infrastructure for the country’s competitiveness. It is essential that we continue to invest in infrastructure, sustainability and efficiency.”
According to Massimo Deandreis, Managing Director of SRM, the analysis shows that Italian ports are proving to be highly adaptable: “Despite the major disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean retains its strategic global importance. Thanks to its location and port network, Italy can play an increasingly significant role in the new global logistics scenario.”
