TRAFFIC IN SEAPORTS, FIRST QUARTER OF 2026

Increase in the traffic of passengers in the first quarter of 2026

In the first quarter of 2026, 3.3 million passengers embarked or disembarked in Croatian seaports. Compared to the same period of 2025, this represents an increase of 3.0%.

In the first quarter of 2026, the number of passengers carried on ferries and passenger ships amounted to 3.2 million, which was 2.6% more than in the same period of 2025. An increase in the number of passengers carried was recorded both in the national and international traffic of passengers. There were 3.5% more passenger cars and 3.3% fewer coaches that embarked on and disembarked from ships compared to the same quarter of 2025.

Out of the total number of passengers in seaports, 30 thousand of them disembarked from cruise ships and visited, among others, the ports of Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar and Šibenik. Compared to the first quarter of 2025, it was an increase of 86.3%.

Increase in the traffic of goods in the first quarter of 2026

The total traffic of goods in the first quarter of 2026 at the level of the Republic of Croatia amounted to 5.5 million tonnes, which means it increased by 14.6% compared to the same period of 2025. This was a result of an increase in the traffic of liquid goods of 14.4% (with a share of 50% in the total traffic of goods) and an increase in the traffic of containerised goods of 52.5% (with a share of 30% in the total traffic of goods), compared to the first quarter of 2025, measured in tonnes. There was a decrease in the traffic of dry bulk goods of 36.1% (with a share of 11% in the total traffic of goods), compared to the same period of 2025.

Of the five ports that accounted for 93% of the total traffic of goods in seaports, an increase in the first quarter of 2026 was recorded in the ports of Omišalj (of 14.9%), Rijeka (of 49.3%) and Ploče (of 16.5%), as compared to the first quarter of 2025.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Cumulative data do not always equal the sum of individual monthly results due to the rounding of numbers to the nearest thousand.

Detailed monthly data on the traffic of ships, passengers and goods in seaports are available on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, under “PC-Axis databases”, where it is possible to browse and print data in various forms. Databases are updated every three months.

Sources and methods of data collection

The Croatian Bureau of Statistics carries out the statistical survey on the traffic in seaports by using the databases of the Croatian Integrated Maritime Information System. The Croatian Bureau of Statistics takes over a part of the database from the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, after which it performs further processing.

The Croatian Integrated Maritime Information System (CIMIS) has been used as a uniform platform for the recording of arrivals and departures of ships. Among other data, ships submit information on the traffic of goods and passengers to CIMIS through authorised maritime agents and shippers. The accuracy and completeness of the data in the official proceedings of registration is verified by the harbour master’s offices.

The detailed notes on methodology are issued in the publication entitled "Methodological Basics for Statistical Survey Traffic in Seaports", which is also available on the web site of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.

Coverage

Data on traffic in seaports include arrived and departed ships, embarked and disembarked passengers and loaded and unloaded goods and relate to activities in all public seaports in the Republic of Croatia.

The statistical survey includes all ships under the national and foreign flags that arrived to or departed from the seaports in the Republic of Croatia, regardless of the activity they perform in the seaport. Ships in ballast are included.

Data on traffic of passengers also include the passengers on cruise ships on excursions and present only their disembarkment.

Definitions

Statistical port consists of one or more ports, normally controlled by harbour master’s branch offices able to record ship and cargo movements.

Ships are vessels with a length of more than 12 m and of over 15 GT or those authorised to carry more than 12 passengers.

Sea passenger is considered to be every person that makes a sea journey on a merchant ship. Service staffs assigned to merchant ships are not regarded as passengers. Non-fare paying crew members travelling but not assigned and infants in arms are excluded.

Cruise passenger excursion is a short visit by a cruise passenger to a tourist attraction associated with a port while retaining a cabin on board.

National traffic of passengers refers to the traffic between two national ports.

International traffic of passengers includes the traffic between a port of embarkment of passengers in the Republic of Croatia and a port of disembarkment of passengers abroad and vice versa.

Goods are any goods moved on sea. This includes all packaging and equipment such as containers, swap-bodies, pallets or road goods vehicles. Goods carried in lorries, trailers or semi-trailers are included. Conversely, the following items are excluded: bunkers and stores of vessels, fish carried in fishing vessels and fish-processing ships, goods carried internally between different basins or docks of the same port.

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
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Persons responsible:
Edita Omerzo, Director of Spatial Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Snježana Kos, Lidija Pilat and Anita Stanković

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