Leixões
| Leixões | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of Leixões | |
| Location | |
| Country | Portugal |
| Location | Matosinhos |
| Coordinates | 41°10′59″N 8°42′00″W / 41.183°N 8.700°W |
| UN/LOCODE | PTLEI |
| Details | |
| Opened | 1886 |
| Operated by | APDL |
| Owned by | Portuguese state |
| Type of harbour | coastal breakwater |
| Statistics | |
| Vessel arrivals | 2,343 (2024) |
| Annual cargo tonnage | 14,381,793 tonnes (2024) |
| Annual container volume | 715,061 TEU (2024) |
| Passenger traffic | 195,877 (2024) |
| Website www.leixoes.apdl.pt/ | |
The Port of Leixões (Portuguese: Porto de Leixões, pronounced [lɐjˈʃõjʃ]) is one of Portugal's largest seaports and the primary maritime gateway for the Northern Region. Located in Matosinhos, just north of Porto and approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the Douro River mouth, the port handles diverse cargoes including containers, bulk cargoes, breakbulk and ro-ro, as well as serving cruise ships and fishing vessels. It is connected to Portugal’s national railway network by the Leixões line.
Construction started in 1884 and the port started operating in 1886, providing a safer and more reliable alternative to the hazardous Douro River bar, which had long posed risks to shipping. Since then, Leixões has undergone multiple expansions and modernization efforts throughout the 20th and 21st centuries to accommodate larger vessels and growing trade volumes. A major upgrade project started in 2023 aims to deepen the access channel and extend the north breakwater to enhance capacity and operational efficiency.
In recent years, the port has faced a decline in cargo throughput, dropping from 19.5 million tonnes in 2019 to 14.4 million tonnes in 2024. The port authority attributes this decrease largely to the 2021 closure of the nearby Petrogal refinery, which caused a significant reduction in liquid bulk traffic.