Malta has 18 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database and serves as a central Mediterranean transshipment, short-sea shipping and regional logistics hub.
Explore Malta port codes, principal cargo locations, indicative trade lanes and data sources for 2026 planning.
Malta is a small island-state with an important position between Southern Europe, North Africa and the central Mediterranean. Its port system combines container transshipment, general cargo, ro-ro, passenger and local coastal services. Indexed coverage and published port throughput are separate measures.
How many seaports does Malta have?
Malta has 18 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Malta port database snapshot for Nov 2026.
Which port is Malta's principal container gateway?
Marsaxlokk is Malta's principal container and transshipment location, represented in the indexed sample by UN/LOCODE MTMAR; Malta Freeport operations are associated with the Marsaxlokk area.
Which areas handle Malta's main port activity?
The main cargo clusters are the Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia area in the south and the Valletta, Marsa and Marsamxett waterfronts around the Grand Harbour and adjoining harbour system.
This table identifies the leading Malta entries in the Ecer Freight sample. Malta does not publish a single comparable league-table series for every indexed location; where a port-specific 2025 TEU figure and year-on-year change are not reliably available, the complete ranking set is shown as unavailable rather than estimated.
Indexed port sample and 2025 public throughput availability
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Malta | MTMAL | — | — | National index entry |
| — | Valletta | MTVAL | — | — | Grand Harbour |
| — | Marsaxlokk | MTMAR | — | — | South Malta |
| — | Valetta | MTMLA | — | — | Grand Harbour |
| — | Birzebbugia | MTBZE | — | — | South Malta |
| — | Marsamxett | MTMSX | — | — | Central harbour system |
The Valletta-area harbour system supports passenger, general cargo, service, coastal and port-related activity. The database includes several city and waterfront entries in this cluster.
Indexed locations around the central harbour system
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valletta | MTVAL | Valletta / — | Passenger, general cargo and harbour services |
| Valetta | MTMLA | Valetta / — | Harbour and city logistics |
| Marsa | MTMSA | Marsa / — | General cargo, service and local distribution |
| Floriana | MTFLO | Floriana / — | Harbour-side passenger and service activity |
| Gzira | MTGZI | Gzira / — | Local waterfront and coastal services |
| Sliema | MTSLM | Sliema / — | Passenger and coastal services |
Southern Malta is the country's principal container and industrial port zone. Marsaxlokk is the key transshipment reference point, while nearby locations support energy, coastal and port-related activity.
Indexed locations in the southern cargo cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marsaxlokk | MTMAR | Marsaxlokk / — | Container transshipment and deep-sea cargo |
| Birzebbugia | MTBZE | Birzebbugia / — | Port, industrial and coastal cargo activity |
| Delimara | MTDMP | Delimara / — | Energy-related and industrial waterfront activity |
| Marsa | MTMSA | Marsa / — | General cargo and inland distribution interface |
Northern and island-facing locations are primarily associated with ferry, coastal, fishing, recreational or local maritime services rather than large-scale container throughput.
Indexed northern and local maritime locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cirkewwa | MTCKW | Cirkewwa / — | Ferry and island connectivity |
| Saint Paul's Bay (san Pawl Il-bahar) | MTSPB | — / — | Local coastal and maritime services |
| Marsaskala | MTMSS | Marsaskala / — | Local coastal and service activity |
| Balzan | MTBAL | Balzan / — | Indexed logistics location; cargo role subject to confirmation |
Malta UN/LOCODE entries begin with the country prefix MT and are followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, MTMAR is the indexed code for Marsaxlokk and MTVAL is the indexed code for Valletta.
A city-level code may identify a broader logistics location, while a terminal or facility record can represent a more specific operating point. Ecer Freight database entries should therefore be checked against the exact port or terminal name used in shipping instructions.
Compare the code and location name with the UNECE UN/LOCODE reference and then confirm the available Malta entries through the Ecer Freight port directory.
Malta's central Mediterranean position supports transshipment and connections with European, North African, Middle Eastern and global hub networks. Transit times are indicative only and depend on carrier rotation, transshipment, seasonality, equipment and customs clearance.
Containerized cargo can move from Malta through Mediterranean feeder and mainline networks toward major North European gateways.
Short-sea and feeder services link Malta with Italian gateways and nearby Western Mediterranean markets for regular regional distribution.
Malta provides a central routing option for cargo moving between European supply chains and North African markets.
Long-haul cargo generally moves through Mediterranean hub connections, with routing determined by the carrier network and available transshipment windows.
The page separates Ecer Freight's indexed port coverage from official or publicly reported national and port statistics. Figures are reviewed against the latest available complete year, currently 2025 where published.
Editorial note: Malta port coverage is based on the Ecer Freight database snapshot from Nov 2026. Official statistics and operator information are checked against publicly available sources, with page content reviewed quarterly. Port calls, schedules, throughput and carrier services remain subject to confirmation.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Malta: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact
