Office de la Marine Marchande et des Ports 
Positive Performance of Commercial Seaports in 2025, Marked by Growth in:
- Tourist traffic: +22%
- Container traffic: +9%
- New vehicle traffic: +9%
- General cargo traffic: +7%
- Passenger traffic: +4%, with accompanying vehicles increasing by +5%
Excluding the Port of Skhira, activity at Tunisia’s commercial seaports recorded positive growth indicators across most segments in 2025, confirming the continued recovery momentum and the growing attractiveness of Tunisian ports.
Cruise activity experienced a notable rebound in 2025, with tourist arrivals increasing by 22%, reaching approximately 272,000 cruise passengers, compared to around 223,000 in 2024, further confirming Tunisia’s gradual recovery as a Mediterranean cruise destination.
It is worth noting that this sector began its actual recovery in 2022, with 37 cruise calls and nearly 55,000 tourists, before gradually strengthening with the return of several cruise operators.
By the end of 2026, the Port of La Goulette is expected to welcome nearly 160,000 additional tourists through 34 cruise calls, as part of the continued resumption of operations by several cruise companies that have been returning to the Tunisian destination since 2023. This development reflects renewed confidence in Tunisia as a destination and highlights the added value generated for the tourism, cultural, and handicraft sectors, as well as the revitalization of La Goulette’s tourist village as a model project in the Mediterranean region.
New vehicle traffic also grew by 9%, increasing from 44,702 vehicles in 2024 to 48,694 vehicles in 2025, reflecting an improvement in import activity and a recovery in trade related to the automotive sector.
Passenger traffic also recorded a 4% increase, reaching approximately 827,000 passengers in 2025, compared to around 794,535 passengers in 2024. At the same time, passenger vehicle traffic rose by 5%, reaching 337,569 vehicles in 2025, compared to 321,194 vehicles in 2024. This reflects improved maritime passenger mobility and underscores the strong ties maintained by Tunisians living abroad with their home country.
Ship calls remained relatively stable, with 4,500 vessels in 2025, compared to 4,522 vessels in 2024.
Regarding commercial activity, container traffic grew by 9%, reaching 538,692 TEUs in 2025, compared to 491,973 TEUs in 2024. Container tonnage also increased by 5%, confirming improved cargo handling productivity and the strengthening of port services.
General cargo traffic increased by 7%, reflecting the diversification of trade activity and improved exchange flows. Trailer traffic also rose by 4% in terms of units and 7% in terms of tonnage, while fuel traffic increased by 5%, confirming the dynamism of various transport and trade flows through Tunisian ports.
Despite an 11% decline in dry bulk food cargo, due to temporary factors related to demand and imports, the overall activity of commercial seaports — excluding the Port of Skhira — maintained a stable yet positive trend, increasing from 22.9 million tons in 2024 to 23 million tons in 2025.
This positive performance comes as the Merchant Marine and Ports Authority continues implementing an integrated investment program aimed at improving services through the acquisition of six technologically advanced tugboats, while also upgrading port infrastructure, enhancing safety, security, energy efficiency, digitalizing services, and improving operational performance.
These efforts are further supported by the development of a comprehensive short-, medium-, and long-term port strategy under the Port Master Plan Horizon 2040.