traffics : Traffic continues to grow in the first half of 2026

Maritime traffic up in the first half of 2026

Following a dynamic 2025, the results for the first half of 2026 confirm the continued growth in HAROPA PORT’s activity. As of the end of June, maritime traffic reached 42 million tonnes, up 5.7% compared with the same period in 2025.

Despite an international context marked by tensions in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the impact on HAROPA PORT’s traffic remained limited at mid-year. Imports of crude oil increased in particular, thanks to diversified sources of supply.

This trend is also reflected in HAROPA PORT’s market share of the North European range: HAROPA PORT gained 0.6 percentage points in total traffic, reaching 9%, and 0.7 percentage points in containerised traffic, reaching 7.4%.

Containerised traffic remains a key driver of growth

After reaching historically high levels in 2024 and 2025, containerised traffic continued to grow in the first half of 2026, driven by full-container traffic, both imports and exports.

HAROPA PORT handled 1.64 million TEUs, compared with 1.51 million over the same period in 2025, an increase of 8.6%. In tonnage terms, volumes rose by 8% to 15.95 million tonnes.

This growth confirms the increasingly important role of the Seine corridor maritime gateway in international trade.

Connectivity with the hinterland remains a key priority. In the first half of the year, inland waterway container traffic reached 115,700 TEUs and remained stable. Rail container traffic increased by 15%, with 78,000 TEUs transported by rail.

A strong grain season supports dry bulk traffic

Dry bulk traffic also recorded favourable results, with 6.46 million tonnes handled, an increase of 11.4%.

This growth was mainly driven by cereals, particularly wheat and barley: exports reached 4.1 million tonnes at the end of June, up 33.2%, with a particularly strong month of May, when more than 800,000 tonnes were exported.

The 2025–2026 grain season confirms HAROPA PORT’s central role in global grain trade: the Rouen port facility handled 8.4 million tonnes of cereals between July 2025 and June 2026. Including oilseeds, protein crops and malt, traffic reached 8.97 million tonnes.

With a 54% share of France’s seaborne cereal exports during the 2025–2026 season, Rouen confirms its position as a leading hub for the French grain industry. Barley in particular recorded its third-highest volume ever, at 2.58 million tonnes.

Liquid bulk supported by diversified sources of supply

Liquid bulk traffic increased by 2%, reaching 18.65 million tonnes. This growth was mainly driven by crude oil imports, up 5.7% at the end of June to 10 million tonnes.

The geopolitical context has prompted industry players to diversify their sources of supply. Crude oil from the Middle East now accounts for 13% of volumes, down by 2 percentage points. Other origins, particularly the United States, Nigeria and Norway, helped offset this decline.

Refined products, however, were down, at 6.3 million tonnes, representing a decrease of 3.2%. Chemical product traffic also fell by 18.8%, amid continued pressure on the competitiveness of the European chemical industry.

Other sectors showed more mixed trends

Ro-ro traffic increased slightly, with 124,280 vehicles handled in Le Havre, up 1.6%. Construction material traffic declined, notably due to the slowdown in new-build construction. However, major projects in Greater Paris could generate new flows of construction materials and excavated soil in the coming months, particularly in connection with Line 15 works.

Cruise traffic remained below previous levels at the end of June, with 86 calls and 202,653 passengers. Activity nevertheless picked up in the spring, with 21 cruise ships welcomed in June alone.

Industrial investment strengthens the Seine corridor

Traffic performance is part of a broader momentum of development across the port estate. Several investments announced or launched during the first half of the year illustrate the strong interest of industrial and logistics players in HAROPA PORT sites.

• In Le Havre, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy is investing €200 million to expand its plant, creating 200 additional jobs. The project strengthens the offshore wind industry, including through the production of 115-metre recyclable blades.

• In Rouen, Groupe BZ is investing €35 million to expand its Maison Bleue terminal in Petit-Couronne. This project complements the quay modernisation works carried out by HAROPA PORT, representing an investment of more than €24 million, including €5.76 million funded by the French State under the CPIER framework.

• In the Paris region, the ports are also supporting the transformation of logistics chains. In Gennevilliers (Hauts-de-Seine), the new POINT.P multimodal platform is expected to increase its inland waterway flows to nearly 240,000 tonnes per year by 2029, while avoiding nearly 11,000 lorry journeys.
  In Bonneuil-sur-Marne (Val-de-Marne), Cemex’s €10 million investment in a platform dedicated to recovering soil excavated from construction sites in the Paris region illustrates the potential of ports to develop circular economy solutions.

Infrastructure to support decarbonisation

Industrial development also depends on the ability to provide the infrastructure required for new energy uses.

In Sandouville (Seine-Maritime), RTE laid the foundation stone for the Noroit substation, the first construction project under the Seine Loop Energy Transition programme. Ultimately, the project is expected to help double the electrical capacity of the port estate and support the needs associated with the decarbonisation and reindustrialisation of the Seine Valley.

In Le Havre, HAROPA PORT is supporting the electrification of port activities by increasing the capacity of the distribution network south of the François Ier lock, particularly at Port 2000. An order has been placed with Enedis to build a new electrical substation in the area. The project will provide an additional 140 MW of capacity by 2030, with the potential to increase this to 210 MW at a later stage.

These infrastructures will help businesses implement their transformation projects and progressively reduce emissions associated with port activities.

Connectivity and land to prepare for tomorrow’s capacity needs

The competitiveness of the Seine corridor also depends on the quality of its hinterland connections and its ability to provide land suited to the needs of businesses.

Several major projects are progressing:

• In Le Havre, construction of the chatière, which will provide direct access to Port 2000 for non-seagoing inland vessels, is progressing according to schedule.
• In Gennevilliers, the Port Seine-Métropole Ouest (PSMO) project is progressing, with the excavation of the dock and the construction of quays and port infrastructure.

HAROPA PORT is also preparing new industrial sites:

• In Grand-Quevilly and Petit-Couronne (Seine-Maritime), HAROPA PORT is continuing to develop several areas of port land to support the development of new industrial activities. Several calls for projects are currently under way, including one covering approximately 39 hectares across the two municipalities. These initiatives are part of the strategy to develop port land and support the reindustrialisation of the area.
• In Le Havre, at the Ouest A29 site, approximately 60 hectares have been designated as a “France 2030 turnkey site” and are being prepared to accommodate three low-carbon industrial projects. HAROPA PORT is preparing a first application for environmental authorisation to develop the site and secure the timetable for the future industrial facilities.

Enhanced port security

The performance of port infrastructure also depends on its ability to ensure the security of flows and facilities. In summer 2026, in Le Havre, HAROPA PORT made its video surveillance network accessible to France’s internal security forces and customs authorities.

The French Customs Plan 2030 also provides for enhanced inspection capabilities in Le Havre, including a permanently installed mobile scanner in 2027 and a new high-energy fixed scanner in 2030.