The Croatian Bureau of Statistics released data for the second quarter of 2026, revealing a mixed picture: while passenger traffic saw a slight dip, cruise and cargo numbers are on the rise.
A total of 9.9 million passengers passed through Croatian sea ports in the second quarter of 2026, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) reported on Wednesday. This represents a 0.9 percent decrease compared to the same period last year, indicating a slight cooling in passenger traffic.
The majority of passengers, 9.3 million, were transported by ferries and passenger ships. However, this segment recorded a 1.7 percent annual decline. The decrease was primarily seen in domestic traffic, where 0.1 percent more passenger vehicles were loaded and unloaded, but 3.7 percent fewer buses compared to last year.
The bright spot in passenger traffic is cruise ships. A total of 533,000 passengers disembarked from cruise ships at Croatian ports, marking a robust 14.4 percent increase compared to the second quarter of 2025. Among the ports visited, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, and Šibenik stand out.
Unlike passenger traffic, cargo traffic is experiencing impressive growth. Total cargo throughput in the second quarter reached 6.9 million tons, a 26.3 percent increase over the same period last year. The five largest ports account for as much as 94 percent of total cargo traffic, with Rijeka leading the way with an 83.5 percent increase. It is followed by Omišalj with 30 percent and Split with 12.1 percent more cargo handled.
Looking at the entire first half of 2026, the total number of ship arrivals at sea ports fell by 0.2 percent. Passenger traffic remained at the same level, while cargo traffic increased by 20.8 percent. In the first quarter of this year, 3.3 million passengers passed through the ports, and the entire year of 2025 closed with 36.1 million passengers and 20.9 million tons of cargo.
