Tenerife Ports Achieve Record 2025, Outperform National Growth

The Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife had a very successful 2025, with significant growth across its key operations. The ports of Tenerife outperformed other Spanish ports in many areas, strengthening their position nationally, particularly in passenger and cargo traffic, and maritime connections.

Overall, eight million passengers passed through the ports, a 9.5% rise from the year before. Of these, 5.7 million were regular ferry passengers. This segment saw a 4.8% increase, much higher than the national average of 1.4%, making Tenerife's ports number one in the Canary Islands and third in Spain for regular passenger transport. The cruise industry saw an even bigger jump, with over 1.6 million cruise passengers – a 24.85% increase. This far outpaced the 9.8% national average. With 725 cruise ship visits (up 22.9%), the Tenerife Port Authority ranked fourth nationally for cruise operations. The port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was particularly strong in 'homeport' operations (where cruises start and end), handling 473,052 tourists, a 37% increase.

Pedro Suárez, president of Ports of Tenerife, credited these strong results to effective management and stronger ties with shipping companies. Suárez highlighted how important cruise tourism is for the island's economy, seeing it as a key way to diversify port activities and boost Tenerife's international profile.

The rise in passenger traffic also led to more vehicle movement, with over 1.9 million vehicles (travelling with passengers) handled, a 5.8% increase from 2024. This makes Ports of Tenerife the top port authority in Spain for vehicle traffic, highlighting its crucial role in connecting the islands.

In terms of cargo, the province's ports handled almost 14.5 million tons, an increase of 3.86%. This growth is notable given the stable national cargo market. As a result, the Port Authority moved up from thirteenth to twelfth place in the national ranking for overall port traffic. Container cargo was particularly strong, growing by 8.9% while the national average actually fell by 1.4%. This put Tenerife in sixth place nationally for containerized tons moved. International transit cargo also saw significant growth, up 41.7%. This places Ports of Tenerife among the fastest-growing port authorities in this key area for Atlantic shipping connections.

Overall port activity led to more ship movements, with 20,133 calls in total. Of these, 18,254 were merchant ships, a 7.3% rise. This is especially impressive compared to the national average, which saw a 2.2% decrease.

Looking ahead to 2026, the Port Authority expects these strong figures to continue, with an estimated 720 cruise calls and over 2.14 million people (passengers and crew). It has committed to high-quality service and a sustainable growth model that benefits the local economy and community. To support this, Tenerife's port already provides Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to cruise ships at its Tenerife Cruise Terminal and Muelle Sur facilities, helping the shipping industry reduce its carbon footprint. Additionally, it will host the international "The Bunkering & Sustainability Forum - Tenerife 2026" from March 16-18, a significant event for discussing sustainable and innovative ship fuel solutions.