Montenegro’s Adriatic seaports recorded a modest increase in cargo traffic in the fourth quarter of 2025, handling 604,900 tonnes of goods, up 1.6 percent compared with the same period in 2024, according to the latest data from the country’s statistical office. This continued a trend of slight annual growth across the year, as port throughput also rose by similar margins in earlier quarters.
The volume of goods handled in the final quarter reflected contrasting dynamics for imports and exports. While imports surged by around 33 percent year-on-year to 433,400 tonnes, exports fell sharply by about 36 percent to 171,500 tonnes, pointing to ongoing shifts in trade patterns and demand.
Italy remained the single largest partner in Q4 based on cargo throughput, accounting for approximately 128,000 tonnes, followed by Egypt, Indonesia, Greece, Turkey and Croatia among Montenegro’s key seaport trading counterparts.
The seaport of Bar, Montenegro’s main cargo facility, continues to anchor maritime freight activity, while smaller Adriatic ports such as Kotor, Risan, Tivat and Zelenika contribute to overall throughput. Passenger traffic through Adriatic ports in the same quarter was slightly lower than a year earlier, with 110,200 passengers handled compared with 114,900 in Q4 2024.
Montenegro’s ports are navigating a year of moderate growth in cargo movement against a backdrop of shifting import-export balances and broader transport trends in the Western Balkans.
