Sharp drop in cruises to the Balearic Islands: they lose more than half of their passengers in a year

PalmThe Balearic Islands' ports registered a sharp drop in the number of cruise passengers during the first two months of 2026. According to data published this Tuesday by State Ports, a total of 36,300 cruise passengers arrived in the archipelago between January and February, 54.9% fewer than in the same period of the previous year. In February alone, the Balearic ports received 16,208 cruise passengers, representing a 44% decrease compared to February 2025. Overall, passenger traffic has also declined. Between January and February, 462,936 travelers passed through the islands' ports, 11.1% fewer than in the same period last year. Regarding freight transport, the Balearic Islands' ports of general interest handled 2.2 million tons in the first two months of the year, a 9.7% decrease compared to the same period in 2015.

General decline in the State

At the state level, ports of general interest registered a slight decrease in activity. In total, 85.96 million tons were handled up to February, 1.3% less than a year earlier. According to Puertos del Estado (State Ports Authority), this drop is attributed to economic uncertainty and occasional terminal closures due to adverse weather conditions. General cargo saw a moderate decline, reaching 42 million tons, while containers—measured in TEUs—fell slightly by 0.3% to 2.8 million. Liquid bulk cargo, on the other hand, grew by 3.6%, driven mainly by fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and natural gas. Conversely, solid bulk cargo decreased by 1.9%, and ro-ro traffic—vehicles transported by ship—fell by 5.3%. The number of merchant ships operating in Spanish ports also decreased by 8%, to 21,756, while passenger traffic remained stable, with more than 4.4 million movements.