Port of Gdańsk posts double-digit cargo growth in Q1 2026

The Port of Gdańsk opened 2026 with strong operational results, handling a total of 20.9 million tonnes of cargo in the first quarter, up 13.6% year-on-year. The figures confirm the port’s growing role as a major cargo hub and logistics gateway in the Baltic Sea region.

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30 april 2026   |   12:13   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. Port Gdańsk

Liquid fuels remained the dominant cargo group, accounting for 47.7% of total throughput. Nearly 10 million tonnes of liquid fuels were handled between January and March, representing a 7% increase compared with Q1 2025. The segment continues to underline the strategic importance of the Port of Gdańsk for Poland’s energy security.

- Port of Gdańsk’s results for the first quarter of 2026 confirm the resilience of the port, built pragmatically through the implementation of well-planned and carefully considered investments. Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and unpredictable changes in international maritime trade and supply chains affecting commodity security, Port of Gdańsk remains a key cargo and transport hub, guaranteeing supply stability and security, said Dorota Pyć, President of the Management Board of the Port of Gdańsk Authority.

General cargo also maintained a strong upward trend, increasing by 15.7% to more than 7.2 million tonnes and accounting for 34.6% of total volumes.

Container operations delivered particularly robust growth. In Q1 2026, the port handled 761,896 TEU, up 22% year-on-year. In tonnage terms, container throughput rose by 17.2%, surpassing 6.5 million tonnes.

- The significant increase in general cargo throughput, including record dynamics in the container segment, is a clear signal of intensifying economic activity and the resilience of the Polish economy amid global turbulence. At a time when global trade is subject to major disruptions caused by armed conflicts, sanctions and unpredictable shifts in trade policy, sustained high cargo volumes at Port of Gdańsk reflect stable domestic demand, growing export activity and the port’s role as a key link in serving the real needs of Polish businesses and the wider socio-economic environment, added Dorota Pyć.

Bulk cargo segments also recorded strong gains. Driven by a long and cold winter and higher energy demand, coal throughput rose by 70% year-on-year to nearly 2 million tonnes.

Ore volumes posted the highest growth rate, surging 111%, indicating increased activity in heavy industry and metallurgy.

Timber and grain cargoes also expanded significantly, rising by 89% and 21% respectively, reinforcing the port’s growing role in handling agricultural and raw material exports.

Not all segments performed positively. Other bulk cargo declined by 11%, while ro-ro volumes fell by 29.6%. Ferry passenger traffic was also down 20.8% year-on-year, which the port links to seasonal factors and shifts in road-sea transport patterns.

The Q1 figures suggest that Port of Gdańsk continues to develop in a balanced manner while adapting effectively to changing market conditions. Strong performances in fuel and container segments, in particular, may position the port for another record-breaking year.

- We need to remain cautious in our estimates and adopt a pragmatic approach, bearing in mind that results after three quarters are the most meaningful indicator. Only in October or November will we be able to better assess where we stand in relation to our annual targets. I analyse throughput figures virtually every day, and already today we can see a realistic opportunity to break another record, concluded Dorota Pyć.

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