Barcelona's 2019 figures hold the balance
Altogether, the port of Barcelona sees 2019 as a year of consolidation. It achieved a turnover of EUR 172 million in 2019, moving sideways with regards to the 2018 result of EUR 174 million. This income stability was achieved despite the 10% reduction of the cargo fees, which represent one of the port's main sources of revenue, cutting back income by approximately EUR 4.5 million.
Total traffic - covering all types of cargo - was 67.7 million t, very close to the 67.8 million achieved in 2018. The 35 million t of hinterland traffic stuck to the record level of the year before. Containers, dry bulk and cars, however, closed the year on a negative note.
Container traffic totalled 3.32 million teu moved, a decline of 3.2% year on year. Short sea shipping services remained strong in 2019, accounting for over 410,000 intermodal transport units (ITU), marking a 0.5% increase.
With a cash flow of EUR 97 million in 2019, the port of Barcelona retains the necessary means to cover its planned investments. Over the last year, the port also significantly reduced its debt (-9%), which now stands at EUR 179 million and came down to 12% of equity.
Investments also increased by 21% during the financial year, reaching EUR 60 million. The port of Barcelona made EUR 44 million in profit, which represents a setback of 18% (compared to EUR 54 million in 2018). This drop is due to the increase in non-recurring expenses like the dredging of the port, contributions to the interport compensation fund etc. (mw)
www.portdebarcelona.cat/Resultats2019