North Sea Port handled 16.8 million tonnes of seaborne cargo in the second quarter of 2026, an increase of 0.8% compared with the same period last year. The result marks a recovery after a weak first quarter. Growth came mainly from containers, breakbulk and RoRo cargo. Container throughput rose 12.7%, while breakbulk increased 13.3% and RoRo volumes grew 3.9%. Bulk cargo delivered mixed results. Dry bulk declined 2.5% to 9 million tonnes, while liquid bulk fell 1.6% to 3.5 million tonnes. Together, the two segments accounted for around three-quarters of total seaborne cargo. North Sea Port said higher volumes of scrap metal, fertilisers, sand and gravel supported dry bulk. However, lower shipments of iron ore, wheat and coal coke offset these gains. In liquid bulk, biodiesel, kerosene and vegetable oils increased, while naphtha, propane and other petroleum products declined. The port also reported strong inland shipping activity. Cargo transported by inland waterways reached 15.8 million tonnes, up 4.5% year on year. Liquid bulk transported by barge increased 8.7%, despite lower seaborne liquid bulk volumes. For the first half of 2026, seaborne cargo remained 4% below the same period last year. North Sea Port attributed the decline to the weak first quarter, adding that the stronger second quarter partly offset the earlier losses. The United Kingdom remained the port’s largest trading partner during the first six months of the year, followed by France, Sweden, Brazil, the United States and Canada. North Sea Port said geopolitical uncertainty, particularly in the Gulf region, continues to affect global supply chains. However, the port expects market conditions to gradually improve in the coming months. The post North Sea Port returns to growth in second quarter appeared first on Container News .