- The Port Authority of Las Palmas reaches the halfway point of the year reaffirming its position as the leading logistics and services hub in the Mid-Atlantic, particularly after closing 2025 with the strongest performance in its recent history.
- Cargo traffic across the Port Authority’s five ports rises by 0.40% to 16,328,140 tonnes compared with the same period last year.
- The Port of Las Palmas records a 15.96% increase in cruise passenger traffic and a 53.80% surge in frozen fish volumes.
Statistics for June released by the Port Authority of Las Palmas show that total traffic across its ports increased by 0.21% year on year, reaching 17,821,063 tonnes in the cumulative figures for the first half of 2026—an increase of 37,860 tonnes compared with the same period in 2025.
According to Beatriz Calzada, President of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, “these results must be assessed in light of the current international political and economic environment, marked by tensions along critical maritime corridors, the reconfiguration of global shipping routes, significant challenges affecting cargo flows, and the resulting volatility in petroleum product prices. These factors are having an impact on both container traffic and marine fuel supply because of higher freight costs,” Calzada said.
Despite these international challenges, the Port Authority of Las Palmas enters the second half of the year having reinforced its position as the benchmark logistics and maritime services platform in the Mid-Atlantic. This performance is particularly noteworthy given that 2025 delivered record-breaking results, with the Authority posting its strongest operational indicators in recent history.
Passenger traffic across the Port Authority’s five ports increased by 4.26% in the first six months of 2026, reaching 1,962,979 passengers, compared with 1,882,861 during the same period in 2025. Cruise passenger traffic rose by 9.63%, while scheduled ferry passenger traffic declined by 4.90%.
Cargo traffic increased by 0.40% to 16,328,140 tonnes, up from 16,263,830 tonnes a year earlier. Frozen fish volumes surged 52.75% to 193,540 tonnes, compared with 126,707 tonnes in the first half of 2025, while fresh fish traffic rose 16.13% to 324 tonnes, from 279 tonnes.
Fuel traffic declined 5.37% to 1,299,441 tonnes, down from 1,373,230 tonnes in 2025. Container throughput reached 762,663 TEUs, an increase of 3.20% over the 739,041 TEUs handled in the same period last year. Containerised general cargo slipped 3.32% to 7,738,987 tonnes, compared with 8,004,976 tonnes in 2025.
Ro-Ro traffic continued its positive trend, with vehicle units increasing 3.36% to 191,758 units, up from 185,520 a year earlier. Ro-Ro cargo volumes also rose 5.63% to 2,946,219 tonnes, compared with 2,789,249 tonnes in the first half of 2025.
By port
Breaking down the figures by port, the Port of Las Palmas recorded a slight decline of 0.25%, handling 15,514,552 tonnes through June. The Port of Arrecife posted a 3.28% increase to 1,015,118 tonnes, while the Port of Puerto del Rosario edged down 0.36% to 824,873 tonnes. The Port of Salinetas recorded the strongest growth, with total traffic up 17.68% to 336,049 tonnes. Meanwhile, the Port of Arinaga saw traffic decline 1.62% to 130,471 tonnes.
Port of Las Palmas
For the Port of Las Palmas, first-half 2026 figures show a 15.96% increase in cruise passenger traffic, offsetting a 4.08% decline in scheduled ferry passengers and resulting in overall passenger growth of 5.24%, with a total of 1,252,270 passengers.
Cargo volumes remained broadly stable, easing just 0.02% to 14,058,782 tonnes. Frozen fish traffic climbed 53.80% to 190,796 tonnes, while fresh fish volumes fell 23.08% to 10 tonnes. Fuel traffic declined 5.35% to 1,295,374 tonnes.
Container throughput increased 3.37% to 705,661 TEUs, although containerised general cargo fell 3.61% to 7,285,058 tonnes. Ro-Ro vehicle units rose 5.37% to 129,228 units, while Ro-Ro cargo volumes increased 7.81% to 2,038,223 tonnes.
