Europe Container Terminal Operations Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 13.19 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 15.82 Billion |
| CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 3.70% |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Europe Container Terminal Operations Market Analysis
The Europe Container Terminal Operations Market size is estimated at USD 13.19 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 15.82 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
- The main growth drivers in the container terminal operations market are increasing marine trade and container handling services. The high cost of operating ports and terminals solely constrains the market. As new technological advancements like artificial intelligence, automation, the internet of things, robotics, and others occur, new opportunities are anticipated to appear.
- Throughout its history, maritime transport drove economic growth and prosperity in Europe. Trade and relationships between all European countries are made possible through maritime transport. It provides the primary transportation means for European imports and exports to the rest of the globe and maintains energy, food, and commodities supply security. The majority of the EU's international freight commerce is carried by sea. In terms of ton-km, short sea transportation accounts for one-third of intra-EU exchanges. Quality maritime transport services are essential to maintaining a high standard of living on Europe's islands and in remote maritime regions.
- For the past few years, there were difficulties with international shipping. Once the COVID-19 pandemic arose in late 2019 and began to affect most countries' real economies globally in early to mid-2020 (Grömling, 2021), the growth of global commerce began to decelerate. Significant supply chain interruptions and logistical issues resulted from this. Demand quickly increased in 2021 as economies began to recover. International shipping routinely made headlines due to tenfold spikes in container freight prices, week-long lines in vital ports, and one-off occurrences like the Suez Canal blockage.
Europe Container Terminal Operations Market Trends
Smart Port Infrastructure Drove the Market
Smart port infrastructure accounts for the highest share in the element segment. Smart port infrastructure includes automated mooring systems, shore power, gate automation, and smart energy & environment solutions. The smart energy & environment solution subsegment includes smart lighting, smart meters, professional services, managed services, and waste treatment & disposal units.
Maritime transport is crucial for international trade, and ocean shipping is the primary transport mode for global trade. As per UNCTAD, around 80% of the volume of international trade in goods is carried by sea, and the percentage is even higher for most developing countries. A typical port is converted into a smart port using various technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), blockchain, and process automation. These technologies can be used individually or in tandem to convert the traditional infrastructure into a digital one. The smart port includes fewer human-related disruptions, lower operational costs, wiser decision-making, and more consistent performance than traditional ports. All of these advantages lead to increased production, which opens the door for a clear picture of Port 4.0.
Sustainable Smart Ports use new data environments, the maritime industry's energy transition, artificial intelligence, and green technology-based solutions. It is to improve port operational efficiency, promote energy efficiency and the sustainability of clean/renewable energy, and tap into the potential for producing clean/renewable-energy production and distribution. Therefore, increased port efficiency and reduced smart port infrastructure operating costs increased Europe's dependency on sea freight transport.
Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning is Optimizing the Logistical Operations
The maritime industries carried out several projects to investigate new digital technology. If the financial operating costs are reasonable and AI can produce more, shipowners want to reduce human-related operations as much as possible. The transition of automated and paperless processes is made possible by AI. But when it comes to analyzing and using big data to increase labor productivity, the maritime industries struggle.
The maritime sector includes many potential uses for artificial intelligence, including improving corporate operations, travel arrangements, cargo management, and ship maintenance. Shipmasters and bridge teams can monitor and forecast their vessel's positions, movements, and maneuvering hours in advance. It is due to AI-based predictive positioning systems, which will improve situational awareness, decision-making, and safety. ML/AI technologies include a positive economic impact on a shipping company's utilization, optimization, and productivity growth-for instance, a fuel optimization system, one for freight handling time optimization, and others.
Europe Container Terminal Operations Industry Overview
The Europe container terminal operations market is fragmented, with a mix of global and regional players. Some logistics players are expanding logistics hubs in Central Europe and serving Eastern European countries. Viking Line, Rhenus Group, Mediterranean Shipping Company S A, Construction Navale Bordeaux, MEYER WERFT GmbH & Co., KG, Bayliner, Ports America Inc, and SSA Marine are market participants in Europe Container Terminal Operations Market.
Manufacturers and service providers prioritize customer happiness, capacity growth, and fleet modernization to increase market share. The enterprises can thrive in this fiercely competitive market by keeping constant touch with shipping companies throughout the region.
Europe Container Terminal Operations Market Leaders
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Viking Line
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Rhenus Group
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Mediterranean Shipping Company S A
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Construction Navale Bordeaux
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MEYER WERFT GmbH & Co., KG
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Europe Container Terminal Operations Market News
July 2023: Financing totalling around €80 million has been granted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) to Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mar Tirreno Centro Settentrionale for the development of the ports of Civitavecchia and Fiumicino. The goal is to support the modernisation and expansion of Rome's ports, helping to increase their productivity and improving passenger services. In concrete terms, the EIB will provide €29 million via a direct loan to Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mar Tirreno Centro Settentrionale. A further €50 million will be granted by CDP after it concluded a funding agreement with the EIB for this amount.
March 2023: One of the world's leading container terminal operators, APM Terminals, part of A.P. Moller - Maersk, has announced the expansion of its Maasvlakte II terminal in Rotterdam. The project involves a site of approximately 47.5 hectares with 1,000 metres of deep-sea quay. The Port of Rotterdam Authority is now constructing the new quay walls, which will be completed by mid-2024. The expansion will increase the terminal's capacity by approx. 2 million TEU (standard size for containers) and the new section is expected to be operational in the second half of 2026.
Europe Container Terminal Operations Industry Segmentation
Companies that run ports, including docking and pier facilities, are part of the container terminal operation sector. Cargo loading and unloading from ships, preparing paperwork for incoming shipments to meet customs requirements, using a computer system to connect cargo with recipients, and loading and unloading cargo onto trucks and trains are among the main tasks.
The Europe Container Terminal Operations Market is segmented by service (stevedoring, cargo handling & transportation, and others), cargo type (dry cargo, crude oil, and other liquid cargo), and country (Germany, Russia, France, UK, Spain and rest of Europe). The report offers market size and forecasts for Global Container Terminal Operations Market in value (USD) for all the above segments.
| By Service | Stevedoring |
| Cargo and handling transportation | |
| Others | |
| By Cargo Type | Dry Cargo |
| Crude Oil | |
| Other Liquid Cargo | |
| By Geography | Germany |
| Russia | |
| France | |
| UK | |
| Spain | |
| Rest of Europe |
Europe Container Terminal Operations Market Research FAQs
How big is the Europe Container Terminal Operations Market?
The Europe Container Terminal Operations Market size is expected to reach USD 13.19 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 3.70% to reach USD 15.82 billion by 2030.
What is the current Europe Container Terminal Operations Market size?
In 2025, the Europe Container Terminal Operations Market size is expected to reach USD 13.19 billion.
Who are the key players in Europe Container Terminal Operations Market?
Viking Line, Rhenus Group, Mediterranean Shipping Company S A, Construction Navale Bordeaux and MEYER WERFT GmbH & Co., KG are the major companies operating in the Europe Container Terminal Operations Market.
What years does this Europe Container Terminal Operations Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Europe Container Terminal Operations Market size was estimated at USD 12.70 billion. The report covers the Europe Container Terminal Operations Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Europe Container Terminal Operations Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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Europe Container Terminal Operations Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Europe Container Terminal Operations market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Europe Container Terminal Operations analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
