Port of Malaga gains momentum with highest increase in international connections in Spain

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The city's port is the fifth in the country in terms of connectivity, after increasing the number of countries of origin and destination for its goods by almost 37%

Ignacio Lillo

Málaga

Monday, 5 January 2026, 12:26

Málaga’s port is ending the year on a high note, with its best-ever performance in key indicators. While the usual metrics such as cargo and bulk traffic, cruise passenger numbers, and vehicle imports are commonly scrutinised, there’s another factor that has played a pivotal role in the port’s success: its global import-export connectivity.

According to the latest Port Connectivity Index report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Málaga has hit an all-time high in 2025, ranking fifth among Spanish ports.

This is highlighted in the latest report of the port connectivity index for goods, carried out by UNCTAD. The figures have been provided by Malaga's Port Authority.

5th

port in the Spanish system with the greatest connectivity for the import and export of goods worldwide, thanks to a 36.6% increase in the past year

Among the maritime facilities whose connectivity has increased in the last quarter of 2025, compared with the same period in 2024, the increases in Malaga (36.6% more) stand out, ranking fifth among Spanish ports, followed by Las Palmas (28.7%, in fourth position); Vigo (14.2%, sixth); Castellón (0.47%, ninth) and Valencia (0.4%, first).

Spanish ports with worse performances

On the other hand, five of the ten main Spanish ports lowered their score in the last quarter of the year. This was the case for Algeciras, Barcelona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Bilbao and Arrecife.

Of the ten large port facilities that experienced a drop in connectivity in the last quarter of 2025, Algeciras (7.2%) stands out, although it remains second in the national system. It is followed by Bilbao (6.1%, eighth); Santa Cruz de Tenerife (2.8%, seventh); Barcelona (2%, third) and Arrecife (1.3%, tenth).

The UNCTAD study is based on the number of scheduled vessel calls per week in the port; the annual capacity in TEUs (20-foot equivalent units); the number of scheduled liner shipping services; the number of shipping companies providing services; the size, in TEUs, of the largest vessel deployed on these services; and the number of other ports connected to the port under analysis by regular direct liner services.

Malaga is currently connected by sea with some of the main ports in Asia, the Persian Gulf, India, Latin America, the US and Canada, largely thanks to the impetus of the multinational MSC, one of the largest container shipping companies in the world. MSC has been operating in Malaga for 17 years, with a growing presence that includes transoceanic services to Asia, South America and the US.

At a recent forum organised by SUR and the Port Authority, Andalucía's branch manager of MSC Carlos de Castellví highlighted the good connectivity and the success of the fruit and vegetable sector in Malaga. "MSC has connections with Sines-Gulf of Mexico-USA, direct service with Canada or Pakistan, etc. Malaga today is connected with the whole world. MSC is wherever the client asks it to be. That's what moves us," he stated.

Record freight

Malaga docks set a record for freight traffic in 2025. According to data provided by the Port Authority, the volume has exceeded five million tonnes. This represents an increase of 50% compared to before the pandemic.

Also very positive were the figures for the traffic of new imported vehicles from factories, where the figure exceeded 100,000 units for the first time, as well as the number of tourists on cruise ships, which exceeded 550,000 passengers.

Call for financial aid for port innovation

The Port Authority and Puertos del Estado have called for public aid within the framework of the plan to promote entrepreneurship for innovation in the port sector (Puertos 4.0), in the categories of ideas and commercial projects. The deadline for applications was 31 December 2025, with a total allocation of 6.75 million euros, financed by Fondo de Compensación Interportuario. The Puertos 4.0 programme is a specific instrument of Puertos del Estado to activate public and private investment in innovation. Its objective is to promote the transformation and strengthening of the technological capabilities of the transport, logistics and ports sector, through the application of disruptive technologies, new uses of existing technologies and applied research projects with added value for the logistics-port community. The 2025 call is structured in two modalities: ideas, endowed with 750,000 euros, of which 105,000 euros are earmarked for the intra-entrepreneurship modality, aimed exclusively at the working staff of the port authorities and national ports. Commercial projects, with a budget of 6,000,000 euros, is aimed at projects with a higher degree of technological maturity and market orientation. The deadline for the presentation of applications is two months for the ideas modality and three months for the commercial projects modality, counting from the day following publication in the official state gazette.