Spanish port traffic surges due to Red Sea crisis

MADRID (Reuters) - The volume of goods moving through Spanish ports rose by 6% in 2024 after they became the first point of call in Europe for many companies avoiding attacks by Houthi militia on shipping in the Red Sea and sending their goods around southern Africa.

Las Palmas in the Canary Islands and Barcelona saw 13% and 9% increases respectively in volumes of merchandise, bulk liquids and dry bulk last year, the state port agency said on Friday.

"The situation has caused some specific peak moments of extra activity, to which Spanish ports have adapted," the agency told Reuters, adding it expected higher port traffic to continue as instability in the Red Sea persists.

Yemen's Houthis have carried out more than 100 attacks on ships since November 2023, sinking two vessels and seizing another in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The Houthis said last week they would cease attacking vessels owned by U.S. or British companies and limit them to Israel-linked commercial ships following a ceasefire deal in Gaza. But transport companies have said the risks remain too high to resume using the Red Sea route.

"Carriers will want to be assured there is an outlook for long-term safe passage before returning to the Red Sea to avoid further massive disruption if the situation deteriorates and they are forced to divert around Cape of Good Hope once again," said Emily Stausbøll, a senior shipping analyst at freight platform Xeneta.

The traffic of goods moved in containers through Spain's ports rose by 11% last year, while Spanish ports also recorded an increase in vessels bunkering to prepare for longer routes, the agency said. In 2023, the ports saw a 4.5% decline in container traffic.

Some Spanish retailers shipped more goods by air to meet demand because of the additional two weeks required to ship goods to Europe via southern Africa, according to two executives in the local fashion industry.

(Reporting by Corina Pons. Editing by Charlie Devereux and Mark Potter)