According to the report, while sea freight rates have risen, the reliability of services still needs improvement.
Despite the volatile economic and geopolitical environment, the authors of the report forecast that global economic growth will stabilise, supporting a steady recovery in maritime trade volumes.
The report also anticipates a solid performance for oil & gas and container traffic in 2024, with an estimated 12.6 billion tonnes of goods to be transported by sea.
Italy’s maritime trade performance
When it comes to the situation in Italy, in 2023, maritime transport accounted for 28% of Italy’s external trade, amounting to €338 billion.
The primary export destinations included the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Turkey, and Mexico, with machinery, chemical products, and transportation equipment leading the export categories.
Conversely, China was the top supplier for Italian maritime imports, followed by the United States, Turkey, India, and Azerbaijan, with imports dominated by machinery, textiles, crude oil, and chemicals.
Port performance and rankings
Globally, the report highlights how Asian ports continue to dominate the container traffic rankings.
Shanghai leads with 49.2 million TEU, followed by Singapore and Ningbo-Zhoushan. European ports such as Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges also feature prominently, despite facing a decline in throughput due to geopolitical tensions.
In the Euro-Med region, Tanger Med maintains its position as the leading port, showing significant growth.
Meanwhile, Italian ports, notably Gioia Tauro and Genoa, have demonstrated resilience, albeit with mixed performance across different cargo types.
The report also stresses a critical need for improvements in port logistics to enhance competitiveness, particularly when it comes to reducing ship waiting times, which incur substantial costs for shipowners and terminals.
Port traffic and cargo handling
Another key section of the research offers insights into the cargo handling performance of Italian ports in 2023.
Italy’s ports managed a total of 474.4 million tonnes of goods, with liquid bulk, dry bulk, containerized cargo, Ro-Ro, and other goods showing varied trends.
Notably, the Ro-Ro segment emerged as the most resilient, recording a 0.4% increase.
As for individual ports, the port of Genoa led in container traffic and overall cargo volumes, although it experienced a 3.7% year-on-year decline in volume.
Other important ports like La Spezia and Livorno also recorded lower year-on-year cargo volumes of -5.3% and -4.9% respectively.
Technological advancements in port operations
The integration of advanced technologies in port operations is also covered in the report, which states that the implementation of digital platforms and automation in cargo handling processes have been pivotal in enhancing efficiency and reducing turnaround times
Moreover, the report finds that Italian ports are increasingly adopting these technologies to streamline operations, improve service reliability, and reduce operational costs.
The role of women in port employment
Yet another area covered in the report is the role of women in the Italian port industry, who represent a small fraction of the workforce in port enterprises. As it stands, just 6% of employees in the sector are female.
This gender disparity is particularly pronounced in operational roles within terminals, logistics, and warehousing.
However, within the Port System Authorities, women make up nearly 50% of the workforce, especially among younger employees, indicating a gradual shift towards greater gender inclusivity in administrative and managerial roles.
Sustainability and alternative fuels
Meanwhile, the push for sustainability in maritime transport is gaining some kind of momentum according to the report, which underscores the increasing adoption of alternative fuels and green technologies.
The fleet capable of using alternative fuels, including LNG, methanol, LPG, and ammonia, is expanding, with significant investments directed towards electrified quaysides and cold ironing capabilities. This trend is also forecast to accelerate over the next few years.
Italy has allocated €717 million for cold ironing (connecting ships to the onshore power supply and shutting down the gensets in order to decrease exhaust emissions and noise) projects, reflecting its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with global and EU targets.
Strategic priorities for the maritime sector
Finally, the report also outlines several strategic priorities for sustaining growth and enhancing competitiveness. These include investing in infrastructure upgrades, fostering innovation through technology adoption, and promoting sustainable practices.
Additionally, addressing workforce challenges, particularly gender disparities, and enhancing collaboration among port authorities, industry stakeholders, and government entities are seen as crucial for future success.
Photo: Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons