“Tenth successive activity record”: the port of Sète-Frontignan is in good health, discover the figures

Philippe Malagola lors des voeux du port le 16 janvier 2025. H.A.

Lors de la cérémonie des vœux du port Sud de France Sète-Frontignan, jeudi 16 janvier, l’exploitant est revenu sur les bons chiffres de 2024 même si le contexte international et réglementaire impacte certaines activités, comme la pêche.

The South of France port of Sète-Frontignan wanted to send a strong signal in terms of development by displaying good health despite the current economic and regulatory context. The year 2024 marks a “tenth successive activity record outside the covid period”, stressed Olivier Carmes, the general manager of the infrastructure belonging to the Region, during the ceremony of wishes to the staff this Thursday, January 16. And this despite the vagaries of the health crisis, the rise in energy costs or even the fleet exit plans which have decimated trawling, particularly in Sète. Presented as a major economic lung of Occitanie, the port has seen the creation of 400 direct jobs over the last ten years and has 100 employees in its own right. Among the good news for 2024, 4% growth and a 7% jump in consolidated turnover, for an amount reaching almost 30 million euros in 2024. Partly thanks to a new record for merchandise activity in strong growth with 5.8 million tonnes transhipped (the 5 million had been exceeded in 2022). “We should reach 5.9 million tonnes in 2025 and with the objective of 6 million tonnes in 2026”, Olivier Carmes even announced.

A healthy ro-ro traffic activity

A dynamism that has its source in the “ro-ro traffic” activity with the good health of the connection with Turkey (DFDS), whose traffic has increased by 10% (six stopovers per week): “We reach 130,000 heavy goods vehicles in transit per year on the port and we hope for a development with the railway”, added the director, after visiting the construction site of the port's new multimodal platform supported by the VIIA company and the renovation of the Rhône-Sète canal. In 2024, 30,000 trucks will already not have taken to the road. The 7th stopover planned for DFDS has been postponed to 2025.

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Cruise stopovers on the rise

The cruise and ferry sector is doing rather well with 1,015 stopovers (including 44 for cruises) and 250,000 passengers in 2024. “It is the desire of the cruise club to return to a reasoned cruise allowing us to make stopovers on ships with an average of 600 passengers, whereas we were on ships with 1,600 passengers in 2018-2019. And to have prospects. We made 46 cruise stopovers in 2024 (for 30,000 passengers, Editor's note), we're going to do 75 in 2025″. For ferries, the port welcomes the 160 stopovers with Morocco and the continuation of new Corsica Linea connections and the doubling of traffic with Algeria.

Livestock activity in difficulty

On the trade side, the development of onshore wind power is providing opportunities : “We handle 300 pieces across around fifteen stopovers,” says the port manager. “We should reach nearly 800 pieces in the coming months. It's going to be a significant activity.” The new vehicle activity is down with the drop in national sales, as is the livestock sector, which is the victim of a crisis. “The situation is extremely serious since September 2023 we have experienced this closure of the Algerian market”. Thefruit and vegetable sector represents a real hope for growth: “The first lychee boats should open up a regular container line, we really hope,” recalled Olivier Carmes.

Fishing limits the damage

Despite the 50% drop in the trawler fleet, “the rise in fish prices limits the damage”, assures the port manager who has 1,600 tonnes of products landed (- 8%), with a turnover down 3% for the auction. However, the fishing activity records an overall turnover up 3% thanks to the diversification of its activities. Didier Codorniou, Vice-President of the Region, representing Carole Delga, during this ceremony of wishes, wanted to deliver a strong message to fishing professionals: “We must build a positive image of fishing in the Mediterranean, a stakeholder in our food sovereignty, and we support the fact that fishermen must earn a decent living from their work. […] You are the first to have organised yourselves around sustainable fishing, even if the word was not fashionable yesterday” he declared.

600 million investments in 10 years

For 2025, investments will continue. After some 600 million in cumulative investments over the past 10 years (public and private), which has seen in particular the modernisation of the quays (electrification, widening of the RORO ramp quay E to allow two DFDS connections simultaneously), the creation of the Zifmar (an embankment at the entrance to the port) to accommodate vehicles in transit, a new strategic plan for 2030 is under consideration. The Zifmar 2 project has been confirmed for 2030 with a view to hosting a rear base for offshore wind power.

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