In a year where the sea remained the backbone of freight logistics across Europe, Cyprus emerged as a leading maritime force. According to new Eurostat data, the island ranked second among EU member states for the volume of goods transported by sea, with 96.5% of its freight moving via maritime routes in 2023.

Across the European Union, sea transport dominated the freight landscape, accounting for 67.4% of total tonne-kilometres—a measure that factors cargo volume and distance travelled. While Portugal led with 98.2%, Cyprus and Greece closely followed, showcasing the strategic importance of the Eastern Mediterranean in European trade flows.

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For 15 of the 22 coastal EU countries, shipping was the primary mode of freight transport. In 10 of them, it represented more than 70% of all movement. Cyprus stood out not only for its reliance on sea freight but also due to the absence of rail infrastructure and minimal inland waterway activity, further cementing its dependence on—and efficiency in—maritime logistics.

While road freight made up 25.3% of EU cargo transport, and rail lagged at 5.5%, Cyprus’ numbers underscore a regional contrast where shipping lanes—not highways—move the economy. Inland waterways (1.6%) and air freight (0.2%) played only marginal roles across the bloc, with Cyprus among countries where these modes are nearly nonexistent.

The report also reveals long-term shifts. Since 2013, only road transport has gained ground in the EU (+2.8 percentage points). Sea freight slightly dipped (-2.0 pp), indicating gradual diversification in continental logistics—but not in island nations like Cyprus, where geography still dictates logistics strategy.

Elsewhere in Europe, countries like Luxembourg (84.5%), Czechia (77.7%), and Hungary (70.7%) leaned heavily on road freight. Rail transport remained strong in Lithuania (31.7%) and Slovakia (30.1%), while Romania led in inland waterway transport (18.9%).

As Cyprus doubles down on its port infrastructure and continues to position itself as a critical maritime hub bridging Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, these figures highlight both a present strength and a future opportunity. In a shifting transport landscape, the island’s maritime dominance remains not just a necessity but a strategic advantage.