On November 20, 2024, Fedespedi released its annual report on the performance of Italian container terminals, prepared by its Research Center, focusing on operational and economic-financial results for 2023. The study covers nineteen terminals that together handled 9.83 million TEU, accounting for 87% of the total TEU throughput in all Italian ports (11.29 million TEU). Compared to the previous year, the terminals included in the analysis showed a contraction of 1.6%, versus a 2.4% decline for all national terminals.
Fedespedi's researchers noted that despite this slight drop, some terminals experienced significant growth in their operational performance. The Vado Gateway in Savona, for instance, recorded a 40.3% increase in container handling in 2023, reaching 293,332 TEU. The Terminal del Golfo in La Spezia and the Venice Container Terminal also showed notable growth, with increases of 13.9% and 10.6%, respectively. These results indicate not only the resilience of the sector in certain areas but also the ability of some terminals to improve efficiency and attract higher traffic volumes.
One of the most significant indicators for assessing a terminal's operational efficiency is TEU per hectare. This metric measures the handling density relative to available space, reflecting how effectively an area is used for managing containers. The Flavio Gioia Terminal in Naples, with 34,848 TEU per hectare, ranks among the most efficient terminals in terms of space utilization. Similar results were achieved by the Salerno Container Terminal with 34,555 TEU per hectare and the Terminal del Golfo in La Spezia with 30,767 TEU per hectare. The ability to handle a high number of containers per unit area represents an important competitive advantage, especially in an environment like Italy, where space for terminal expansion is often limited.
Another crucial indicator analyzed by Fedespedi is TEU per meter of quay, which measures the efficiency of quay utilization. This indicator is particularly relevant as loading and unloading operations are one of the main bottlenecks in port logistics. The Medcenter Container Terminal in Gioia Tauro leads with 1,047 TEU per meter of quay, the highest value among Italian terminals. This figure underscores the terminal's efficiency in maximizing the use of its quay infrastructure to ensure high handling capacity. The La Spezia Container Terminal also demonstrated high efficiency, with 1,026 TEU per meter of quay. This performance is key to keeping operational costs low and ensuring competitiveness in the maritime transport sector.
Indicators such as TEU per employee and TEU per quay crane provide valuable insights into the efficiency of personnel and equipment use. These two factors are fundamental in determining terminal competitiveness, as effective management of human and mechanical resources can significantly impact overall productivity. The highest value was recorded at the ACT in Ancona, with 6,444 TEU per employee. Other terminals with high values include the Venice Container Terminal with 3,704 TEU per employee, and both the Medcenter Container Terminal and the Flavio Gioia Terminal showed good productivity, with 2,846 and 2,805 TEU per employee, respectively.
Regarding equipment efficiency, the Medcenter Container Terminal once again stands out with 131,438 TEU per quay crane, followed by the Psa Genova Pra' in Genoa with 116,445 TEU per crane and the TMT in Trieste with 106,101 TEU per crane. These values indicate optimal management of equipment, enabling a high number of containers to be handled with a relatively small number of cranes.
The economic and financial performance of Italian container terminals in 2023 reflects the challenges faced by the sector in a context of declining traffic. The total revenue of terminal operators fell by 20.6% compared to 2022, dropping from 1.034 billion euros to 820.8 million euros. This decrease was also reflected in the final profit, which fell to 71 million euros, a 44.5% reduction from the previous year.
Nevertheless, some terminals showed significant revenue growth. The Salerno Container Terminal reported a 27.6% increase in revenue, while the Terminal del Golfo saw an 11.2% rise. On the other hand, terminals like Psa Genova Pra' and Bettolo in Genoa experienced contractions of 11.4% and 37.6%, respectively.
Another important economic indicator is Return on Sales (RoS), which measures operating profitability relative to revenue. The Medcenter Container Terminal maintained a good level of operating profitability, while other terminals, such as Psa Genova Pra', recorded a significant decline in their operating result. ROI (Return on Investment) and ROA (Return on Assets) were also affected by the general reduction in traffic and lower handled volumes, highlighting the sector's difficulties in ensuring adequate profitability. Despite these challenges, some terminals demonstrated a good ability to contain costs and maintain profitability. The Venice Container Terminal, for example, recorded an 8.2% increase in net profit, against a 4.4% increase in revenue.
