The Port of Las Palmas concluded 2025 as the great logistical node of the Central Atlantic, a magnet attracting everything from bulk carriers from North Africa to container ships heading towards the Gulf of Guinea. Las Palmas ranks within the G15 of the most profitable ports in the EU. The relationship is not only one of proximity but also of an economic dependency measured in thousands of gross tonnage (GT). From the docks of Morocco to the terminals of South Africa, ship traffic outlines a map of constant exchange where energy, food, and manufactured goods are the absolute protagonists.
The Maghreb Axis: Fertilizers and Fishing
Morocco dominates proximity traffic with a network of specialized ports. Safi and Jorf Lasfar establish themselves as critical points of origin for the transport of fertilizers and raw materials, primarily operated by large bulk carriers (Bulk Carriers) reporting 33,057 GT and 23,260 GT respectively. Meanwhile, the connection with Dakhla keeps the fishing sector alive, with constant calls from smaller tonnage vessels (ranging from 800 to 1,600 GT) operating in the rich waters of the Canary-Saharan bank. The port of Agadir and the giant of Tanger Med complete this axis, the latter moving petroleum products with vessels reaching 29,925 gross tons.
The Gulf of Guinea Route: Energy and Containers
As we move down the African coast, the load becomes heavier and more strategic. Mauritania connects with Las Palmas through Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, reporting intense activity of container ships ranging from 9,000 to 17,000 GT. Further south, Senegal (Dakar) and Ivory Coast (Abidjan) position themselves as key partners; while Dakar stands out for the movement of petroleum products and containers (with ships of up to 35,000 GT), Abidjan specializes in large container ships of 66,702 GT and bulk carriers of 23,264 GT. Other points such as Conakry (Guinea), Bissau (Guinea-Bissau), and Lagos (Nigeria) reinforce this network, moving everything from industrial supplies to consumer products.
The Giants of the South and the Islands: Cape Verde and Richards Bay
The long-range connection is exemplified in South Africa. Ports like Richards Bay and Cape Town send to Las Palmas some of the largest vessels recorded in the 2025 archive, including container ships of 113,112 GT and bulk carriers over 44,000 GT, essential for international trade that utilizes the Canaries as a technical stop or redistribution hub. In the insular realm, Cape Verde maintains a steady flow from Praia and Mindelo, with a heterogeneous mix of cargo and fishing vessels that establish Las Palmas as their reference port in Europe.
