Port of Leixões to receive €931 million investment by 2035

The Portuguese government has announced a €931 million investment in the Port of Leixões by 2035, as part of its national Portos 5+ strategy to modernise and expand the country’s maritime infrastructure.

 

Central to the plan is the construction of a new North Container Terminal, expected to significantly increase the port’s cargo capacity. By 2035, Leixões is projected to handle 20 million tonnes of cargo annually – a 35% increase – and one million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), representing a 40% growth in container traffic.

 

Of the total investment, €219 million will come from the port authority and European funds, with the remaining €712 million contributed by private investors. The strategy also foresees new concessions for container, general cargo, and roll-on/roll-off terminals, with respective investments of €430M, €85M, and €50M.

 

Beyond cargo infrastructure, the plan includes sustainability and urban integration measures: the installation of green energy systems for ships, the expansion of rail logistics platforms, and closer integration with the city of Matosinhos. This includes reordering traffic flows around the port to support a more harmonious coexistence between port activity and urban life.

The Port of Leixões is the main harbour for Portuguese industrial exports. Connected to over 180 countries, it handles 17% of Portugal's seaborne trade and is the 3rd busiest port in the country in terms of ship traffic. It is considered one of the most efficient and competitive multipurpose ports on the Iberian Peninsula.