Which European port is the busiest by container traffic?

Which European port is the busiest by container traffic? The answer is the Port of Rotterdam.

Rotterdam is Europe’s leading container port when measured by throughput in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the standard unit for comparing container traffic. Its position comes from its enormous scale, deep-water terminals, global shipping connections, and direct access to Europe’s inland markets through the Rhine and other waterways, railways, roads, and pipelines.

The port handled about 13.8 million TEUs in 2024 and about 14.2 million TEUs in 2025. Antwerp-Bruges is a close rival and is sometimes confused with Rotterdam, particularly because the two ports are among Europe’s largest. However, Rotterdam remained ahead in container throughput in those years.

Rotterdam is also Europe’s largest seaport overall, but container traffic is only one measure of port activity. Total cargo tonnage includes bulk goods such as crude oil, coal, and chemicals, so rankings can differ when ports are compared by cargo weight, vessel calls, or passenger traffic.