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France seaport freight: Dunkirk

France seaport freight: Dunkirk stood at 11,188 thousand tonnes in Q1 2026, according to Eurostat – gross weight of goods handled in main ports, France, quarterly (mar_go_qm_fr). It is one of the indicators in the Seaport traffic (quarterly) table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 1998 to Q1 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.

Source: Eurostat – gross weight of goods handled in main ports, France, quarterly (mar_go_qm_fr)Last updated: Curated by Bui Thanh Phuc
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This indicator in the Seaport traffic (quarterly) table

IndicatorQ1-2026Q4-2025Q3-2025Q2-2025Q1-2025Q4-2024Q3-2024Q2-2024Q1-2024Q4-2023
France, all ports67,71069,99367,72666,00465,31465,55462,86366,54966,81368,289
Channel, Atlantic and North Sea seaboard47,17048,45246,18443,74044,04243,39042,65445,40947,12146,408
Dunkirk11,18810,8099,6098,9709,7018,9108,3919,7049,8209,056

Understanding france seaport freight: Dunkirk

Cargo throughput at this northern maritime gateway is quantified by the gross weight of all incoming and outgoing goods measured in thousand tonnes. This specific territorial metric isolates maritime commerce passing exclusively through the port facilities of Dunkirk, distinguishing its volumes from Mediterranean hubs, smaller regional harbors, and aggregate national totals. The enumeration encompasses liquid bulk, dry bulk, and containerized freight moving between vessels and shore infrastructure. Excluded from this weight metric are the ship's own stores, ballast, and the physical weight of the vessel itself. Analysts reviewing this series must account for geographic isolation effects, where localized industrial supply chains or hinterland manufacturing output drive localized surges entirely decoupled from broader national maritime patterns.

Interpreting this dataset requires careful attention to maritime trade cycles and the recurring weather-related disruptions characteristic of the northern seaboard. Early figures often undergo retroactive adjustments as terminal operators reconcile final manifest documentation and multimodal transfer logs. Comparing this series against Mediterranean counterparts highlights regional trade asymmetries driven by distinct European overland corridors and industrial specialization. Analysts should favor twelve-month comparisons over quarter-to-quarter movements to filter out regular operational lulls caused by seasonal maintenance shutdowns and recurring maritime labor disputes.

Frequently asked questions

What categories of cargo are included in the Dunkirk freight figures?
The metric covers liquid bulk, dry bulk, and containerized goods transferred between ships and shore facilities.
How does this series differ from national seaport freight totals?
This measure isolates exclusively the tonnage processed through Dunkirk, whereas national totals combine traffic across all French commercial ports.
Why might quarterly freight volumes fluctuate independent of broader economic cycles?
Weather events, local industrial maintenance, and regional supply chain shifts can cause localized spikes or drops unique to this northern gateway.

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