Larnaca And Manama Set To Establish City Partnership

by News Editor

August 12, 2026

Larnaca is set to establish a city-to-city partnership with Bahrain’s capital Manama after the Bahraini cabinet approved the proposal, Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras announced on Tuesday.

The agreement would make Larnaca the second Cypriot city to establish a formal partnership with a Gulf city, following Nicosia’s twinning with Doha, Qatar.

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Expanding Larnaca’s International Links

Vyras described the decision as “another important step for our city”, saying it could open new opportunities for cooperation.

The mayor said the initiative is part of Larnaca’s broader strategy to strengthen its international presence, develop new channels of cooperation and reinforce the city’s position in the wider region.

The partnership comes as Cyprus and Bahrain are also expanding bilateral cooperation in defence, shipping, investment, tourism and technology.

Closer Cyprus-Bahrain Cooperation

The proposed city partnership follows broader efforts to deepen ties between Cyprus and Bahrain.

Cyprus Ambassador to Bahrain Andreas Eliades said the two countries were pursuing closer cooperation amid wider regional security developments. He identified maritime security and freedom of navigation as strategic priorities, while highlighting financial services, fintech, technology, logistics and tourism as areas with potential for stronger economic cooperation.

The Larnaca-Manama partnership could provide an additional platform for developing these links at the local level.

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Europe’s Busiest Ports Show The Scale Of Maritime Trade

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 7, 2026

Maritime transport carried roughly 13 billion tonnes of goods worldwide in 2024, highlighting its central role in global trade and supply chains. EU ports handled about 3.4 billion tonnes, or 26% of the global total, while nearly 90% of the bloc’s external freight trade is carried by sea.

Rotterdam And Antwerp-Bruges Lead The EU

Rotterdam was the EU’s busiest port in 2024, handling 397.3 million tonnes of goods. Antwerp-Bruges ranked second with 243.7 million tonnes, putting the two northern European hubs well ahead of the rest.

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Hamburg ranked third at 97 million tonnes, followed by Spain’s Algeciras at 81.5 million tonnes and Amsterdam at 78.8 million tonnes. France’s HAROPA port complex, covering Le Havre and Rouen, handled 76.6 million tonnes, while Gdansk recorded 71 million tonnes.

Marseille and Valencia followed with 66 million and 64.5 million tonnes, respectively. Romania’s Constanta completed the top 10 at 57.6 million tonnes, reflecting the Black Sea’s role in Europe’s wider trade network.

Europe’s Second Tier Of Major Ports

Several ports handled between 40 million and 56 million tonnes in 2024. Barcelona recorded 55.5 million tonnes, followed by Trieste at 53.5 million, Genoa at 47.4 million and Sines at 44.1 million.

Piraeus handled 43.7 million tonnes, while Germany’s Bremerhaven recorded 42.5 million. Sweden’s Göteborg handled 38.5 million tonnes and Dunkerque in France 36.8 million.

Netherlands Leads By National Port Volume

Looking at total cargo across each country’s ports, the Netherlands ranked first with 538.1 million tonnes in 2024. Italy followed with 488.6 million tonnes and Spain with 486 million tonnes, putting all three well ahead of the rest of the EU.

Belgium ranked fourth at 274.9 million tonnes, followed by Germany at 273.9 million and France at 269.8 million. Greece, Sweden and Poland each handled more than 100 million tonnes, showing the breadth of Europe’s maritime network.

Turkey Expands The Regional Picture

Including EU candidate countries and EFTA members puts Turkey in second place with 524.7 million tonnes, behind the Netherlands. Norway ranked eighth with 212.1 million tonnes and handled 212.1 million tonnes.

The European Commission has described maritime transport as a long-standing driver of European economic development. Its role now extends beyond moving cargo, with ports increasingly tied to supply chains, energy security and industrial policy.

In March 2026, the Commission adopted two strategies focused on competitiveness, sustainability, security and resilience across the EU’s waterborne sector, including ports, shipping and shipbuilding.

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