Since COSCO took over operations in 2016, annual throughput has risen from 680,000 to more than 5.6 million TEUs, while 2025 revenue reached 251 million euros.
The Greek port now ranks as Europe's fourth-largest container port, second-largest cruise homeport and largest ferry port, with 5G, AI, solar power and planned shore-power systems modernising operations.
COSCO says it has invested over 10 billion yuan locally, helping reverse losses, create jobs and expand surrounding business activity as Piraeus positions itself as a bigger Asia-Europe logistics hub.
Is the economic revival of Greece's Piraeus port a golden opportunity or a geopolitical trap set by China?
Caught between US and Chinese interests, can Piraeus's success outlast the rise of rival trade corridors?
Piraeus 2025: Europe’s 8th Leading Shipping Hub—Growth, Green Innovation, and Regional Impact
Overview
Piraeus has strengthened its role as a leading European and global maritime center, supported by its ranking as the 8th top shipping hub in the 2025 Xinhua-Baltic Index. Although it slipped from 7th place in 2024, the region remains a key player in international shipping, with the wider Attica area recognized for ship ownership and technical management. Major investment from China’s COSCO group has upgraded port infrastructure, created jobs, and increased tax revenue, driving economic growth and reinforcing Piraeus’s strategic importance in the global maritime industry.