Cagliari, Italy

Port Overview

Cagliari, located on the southern coast of Sardinia, Italy, is one of the largest seaports in the Mediterranean. Covering over eight square kilometers and managing more than 30 kilometers of coastline, it ranks among Italy’s top five ports by cargo volume. Its proximity to the Gibraltar-Suez maritime route gives it significant strategic importance for transshipment and international trade. The port features 29 berths and handles up to 1 million TEUs annually, serving as a key hub for container, bulk, Ro-Ro, and passenger traffic.

Facilities & Infrastructure

Cagliari’s main port facilities include the Cagliari International Container Terminal, a technologically advanced hub equipped for large post-panamax vessels, with quay and yard cranes for efficient container handling. The port also features a dedicated Ro-Ro terminal, a cruise terminal with two long berths, and a new bulk terminal under development. Key cargo areas offer extensive storage, modern road links, and customs-free zones. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are not currently highlighted among core equipment.

Container Terminals

Cagliari’s main container terminal, the Cagliari International Container Terminal (CICT), features five berths and a quay length of 1,600 meters. Its annual handling capacity is approximately 1,000,000 TEU. The terminal is semi-automated, utilizing modern equipment such as quay cranes and RTGs, but not fully automated. Major operators include Grendi Trasporti Marittimi S.p.A., with previous operations by Contship Italia Group. The terminal is designed for large, post-panamax vessels.

Port Services

• Container handling: Advanced container terminal for loading, unloading, and transshipment of containers, equipped for large vessels and efficient operations.
• Cargo operations: Facilities for general cargo, bulk, and RO-RO (roll-on/roll-off) cargo, supporting import, export, and industrial logistics.
• Ship services: Bunkering, waste collection, mooring assistance, water and electricity supply, and security.
• Warehousing: On-site storage and warehousing, including customs-free zones for processing and storage of goods.
• Customs: Full customs services, with a free zone allowing duty-free import, storage, processing, and re-export of non-EU goods.

Global Connectivity

Cagliari, Italy is a key Mediterranean port connecting Sardinia with mainland Italy (Rome/Civitavecchia, Naples), Sicily (Palermo), and occasionally Genoa. It serves southern Sardinia and acts as a gateway for regional cargo and passenger traffic. Regular ferry routes link Cagliari to major Italian markets, supporting trade and tourism. Its strategic location enables efficient access to Western Mediterranean shipping lanes, facilitating connections to Iberian, Italian, and North African coasts.

Port Statistics

Port of Cagliari, Italy – Key Statistics (2025):

• TEU throughput: Up to 1,000,000 TEU annual capacity; recent actual throughput is significantly lower, around 55,000 TEU in 2022 due to operational changes.
• World ranking: Not in the top 20 busiest European ports; no current global top ranking.
• Number of berths: 29 berths, over 50 wharfs.
• Port area: Over 8 square kilometers.
• Shipping lines: Served by major Mediterranean and international shipping lines, with a focus on transshipment, bulk, Ro-Ro, and general cargo.