Four ports, one dominant one! Durrës holds the weight at the beginning of the year/ Maritime transport, on the rise. Metals and oil occupy the largest share
Maritime transport in Albania continues to remain one of the main links in the movement of goods and passengers, with the Port of Durres maintaining its clear dominance in early 2026.
According to the latest INSTAT data, during the first quarter of 2026, a total of about 2.28 million tons of goods were transported in Albanian ports, while the number of passengers who traveled by ship reached 154 thousand people, confirming the role of maritime transport as the main corridor for supply and movement in the country.
At the top of the list is once again the Port of Durres, which continues to remain the main seaport of the country. About 2.17 million tons of goods were transported from this port, representing 95.2% of the total volume of goods at the national level. Compared to the same period last year, this port has marked a significant increase of 39.8%, indicating an intensification of commercial and industrial activity.
On the other hand, other ports continue to have a significantly lower share in the transport of goods. The Port of Vlora has processed around 62 thousand tons of goods, while the Port of Shëngjin has registered 40 thousand tons. At the bottom of the list is the Port of Saranda (Limjon), with only 7 thousand tons of goods during the first quarter of the year.
Meanwhile, Durrës' dominance in passenger transport remains evident. During the first quarter of 2026, 154,019 passengers traveled from Albanian ports, with 77.5% of them passing through the Port of Durrës. It is followed by the Port of Saranda, which processed 14.4% of passengers, while the Port of Vlora recorded 8.1% of the total.
The data also shows an increase in the movement of maritime vehicles. The number of ships entering and leaving Albanian ports during the first quarter of 2026 reached 265 ships, of which 248 are foreign and 17 domestic. Compared to the same period a year ago, the total number of ships increased by 28.6%, reflecting the increase in activity in the maritime sector.
Regarding the structure of transported goods, the largest share is occupied by base metals and metal products, which constitute 17.6% of the total transported goods. They are followed by coke and refined petroleum products with 14.3%, as well as coal, crude oil and natural gas with 12.7%, reflecting the importance of the industrial and energy sectors in maritime trade.
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