France seaport freight traffic: liquid bulk cargo
France seaport freight traffic: liquid bulk cargo stood at 136.85 million tonnes in 2025, according to SDES – Service des données et études statistiques (Ministère de la Transition écologique). It is one of the indicators in the Freight transport (annual) table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 2000 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Freight transport (annual) table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo by type, all ports | |||||||||||
| Liquid bulk | 136.85 | 131.64 | 136.48 | 136.43 | 116.73 | 119.74 | 140.44 | 140.34 | 137.74 | 134.87 | |
| Crude oil | 49.89 | 47.99 | 48.88 | 44.48 | 36.55 | 38.3 | 51.9 | 56.79 | 60.48 | 59.01 |
Understanding france seaport freight traffic: liquid bulk cargo
Summarizing the aggregate mass of fluid and pumpable commodities transported through maritime port infrastructure, this category captures the broad liquid bulk sector. It aggregates crude oil, refined petroleum derivatives, liquefied gases, chemicals, and other flowable substances handled by specialized marine terminals. The definition includes all inward and outward shipments of liquid cargo, but strictly excludes dry solid bulks, containerized goods, and general break-bulk merchandise.
Analyzing this series demands an awareness of global energy markets, refining capacity shifts, and pipeline connectivity that bypasses traditional port terminals. Annual comparisons help filter out temporary refinery maintenance schedules and weather-related tanker delays that distort short-term figures. Users should note that liquid bulk often represents the single largest share of total port tonnage, meaning overall maritime throughput trends are frequently dictated by fluctuations in this specific energy-heavy category.
Frequently asked questions
- Are liquefied natural and petroleum gases included in liquid bulk totals?
- Yes, liquefied gases are a recognized component of the broader liquid bulk cargo classification alongside crude and refined oils.
- Does this metric measure volume in liquid units or physical weight?
- The data is reported in physical weight terms, specifically million tonnes, converted from volumetric measurements using standard density coefficients.
- How do pipeline connections affect liquid bulk port statistics?
- If liquid cargo is pumped directly from a tanker into an onshore pipeline network, it is still counted as part of the port throughput.