The Port of Sète has announced a record-breaking eleventh consecutive year of commercial growth, handling 6 million tonnes of cargo in 2025. The sustained success, revealed during the port’s annual address on January 15, extends a period of expansion dating back to 2008, when cargo volume stood at 3 million tonnes. Driven by robust activity in commerce, fishing, adn leisure, the port is now looking ahead with a new €150 million strategic plan for 2026-2030 focused on sustainability and expanded rail capacity.
The Port of Sète has achieved a record-breaking eleventh consecutive year of commercial activity, handling 6 million tonnes of cargo in 2025. Fishing and leisure activities also reported positive results. Strategic plans for 2026-2030 were unveiled during the port’s annual address on January 15.
The Port of Sète continues to demonstrate strong growth, marking its eleventh straight year of record commercial traffic in 2025 with 6 million tonnes of goods transported – a significant increase from the 3 million tonnes recorded in 2008. “Despite a challenging economic climate, our port is thriving, and our three core activities – commerce, fishing, and leisure – all finished the year in the black,” announced Philippe Malagola, President of EPR Port Sud de France, during the port’s annual address on Thursday, January 15, at the Quai du Maroc. “Sète is an exemplary port in terms of vision and development, at the heart of regional action,” particularly regarding intermodality targets, aiming for 40,000 semi-trailers transported by rail to Calais, compared to 15,000 today, emphasized Didier Codorniou, Vice-President of the Occitanie Region (delegate for the sea), who recently extended the EPR’s management contract to 2040. Alongside Olivier Carmes, the EPR’s Director, the leaders reviewed the successes of 2025 and the ambitions of the future 2026-2030 strategic plan.
€150 Million Strategic Plan for 2026-2030
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Representatives from the Region and Port Sud de France revealed details of the 2026-2030 strategic plan, validated by the board of directors and designed to “consolidate economic performance, accelerate the environmental transition, and strengthen its position as a multimodal and decarbonized hub in the Mediterranean,” they summarized. The plan immediately targets reaching 7 million tonnes of goods, “thanks to the versatility of traffic.” This includes doubling the share of rail transport from 10% to 20% through the VIIA platform, as well as increasing inland waterway transport by upgrading the Rhône Canal to Sète, “resulting in a reduction of 70,000 trucks on the roads” in the long term.
An annual growth target of 3% has been set, with a goal of creating 200 additional jobs, bringing the total to 2,500 across the three ports of Sète. This expansion will be supported by investments totaling €150 million (€100 million from the Occitanie Region and €50 million from Port Sud de France), plus an additional €100 million from private funds.
Projects include the development of Zifmar II, designed to accommodate the base for offshore wind power, complementing the wind turbine assembly hub in Port-la-Nouvelle. The first phase of construction (11 hectares) is expected to be completed by 2030. New quays will be configured on the commercial port (I1 and I2, on the bulk carrier side) by 2029. Improvements are also planned for the fishing port, optimizing spaces on Quai de la Consigne for small-scale fishing vessels, while preserving Quai A for tuna boats.
1. Commercial Activity Drives Revenue Increase
2025 concluded with an overall revenue increase of 12%, reaching €32.90 million, exceeding the set objective by 5%. “We surpassed 5 million tonnes in three years (compared to nine years to exceed 3 million), and we hope to maintain this momentum,” highlighted Olivier Carmes, presenting supporting data. Goods traffic led the way, with 6 million tonnes handled – a 13.5% increase. Semi-trailer traffic continued to rise through the six weekly DFDS services to Turkey (up 2% to 133,000 units). A seventh service is not currently planned due to new competition from UGR RoRo, which is launching a Marseille-Turkey line. However, new vehicle traffic declined by 10%.
Clinker (cement) traffic rebounded to 370,000 tonnes in 2025, a 40% increase, driven by regional customer growth and the new dust suppression hopper, which allows for handling larger vessels. Since 2025, the Reefer terminal has benefited from a regular import line of fruits and vegetables via operator Primever and vessels chartered by MSC. Wind energy also saw strong growth, with 800 packages handled – double the amount from the previous year.
2. Passenger Numbers Exceed 300,000
The port experienced a significant increase in passenger numbers, particularly in ferry traffic, reaching 320,000 passengers – a 44% jump. “Six years ago, we had only one shipping company; today, we have four,” noted Olivier Carmes. Italian-flagged GNV dominates the routes to Morocco (155,000 passengers and 155 calls) and Algeria, competing with Corsica Linea. In the cruise sector, Sète, which aims to accommodate ships under 240m (averaging 600 passengers compared to 1,700 previously), welcomed 35,000 passengers with 60 calls. This strategy also supports decarbonization efforts by positioning these vessels at quays equipped with electrical connections.
4. Fishing Sector Remains Resilient
Despite a significant reduction in fleet size and landings (1,500 tonnes), the fishing port remains resilient, with revenue increasing by 5.2% (€2.7 million). The auction market has seen a resurgence in red tuna volumes (19 tonnes in 2025 compared to 1 tonne in 2024). Higher average sales prices and new services, such as ice sales, polystyrene box repackaging, and bin rentals, contributed to the positive results (+4% revenue increase). The marina also performed well, with revenue up 4.7% to €2.9 million, benefiting from increased short-stay visits and plans for a renovation of the nautical hall (144 berths, €700,000) and new sanitary facilities in 2026.
The repair and maintenance sector is also thriving, with a 7% increase in revenue. The Frontignan fishing zone is also attractive (+36% revenue increase) with the establishment of logistics activities for the fishing industry, such as those of STEF.
3. Investments in Decarbonization
“In 2025, the port reached major milestones in its history with new infrastructure dedicated to the energy transition,” summarized Philippe Malagola, with the ambition of making Sète “the best link in the Mediterranean logistics chain.” Vice-President Didier Cordorniou highlighted the €600 million invested since 2008, half of which came from public funds, supporting a port that now employs 2,300 people. Key developments accelerating growth include the new rail platform (VIIA), inaugurated at the end of the year (€20 million, including €4 million for the port), designed to triple the number of semi-trailers and containers transported annually between Sète and Calais, from 15,000 to 40,000; quayside electrical connections (first vessel operational); the hydromic dredge (29 million euros, financed by more than 85% by the Region); and the Reefer terminal (€1.6 million). The deployment of cameras and access control on the three ports has begun, with a budget of €1.2 million by 2026. Installation of photovoltaic canopies will begin in 2026 on 8,000 m2 behind Quay G, costing €2.3 million.
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