In the first half of 2017, Mainland ports handled 48.6 million tonnes, representing a year-on-year gain of 8.1% and a new record for the period in question.

Leixões, with 9.7 million tonnes of cargo, was one of the ports with the best result ever, up 9% over the first half of 2017. The others were Aveiro and Sines.

Containerised cargo continues to gain weight in national port numbers, much as transhipment moves, as the Mobility and Transport Authority (AMT) points out in its monthly report. In the first half, it represented 18.2 million tonnes.

Also noteworthy is the Ro-Ro cargo, where Leixões is the leader, which grew by 15.3% to 671,000 tonnes.

Solid bulk reached 9.9 million tonnes (5.9% more) and liquid bulk, 16.8 million tonnes (2.1% more).