Spain has long been synonymous with efficient and vast maritime trade, an association that has historically brought prosperity to European nations. With well-maintained ports and continued growth in technology, equipment and expertise, Spanish ports will continue to be key to trade, partnerships and economic growth in the region.
Here are five top ports in the country that continue to make Spain a force to be reckoned with in the region:
1. Port of Algeciras
Algeciras is one of the largest ports in Spain. The port, like its sister port, sits on the 5,000 km coastline of the Spanish country. Although it is the largest port in Spain, it is the third largest port in the Mediterranean. Globally, it is the ninth largest.
Located in Andalusia, in the province of Cadiz, the port is a center for the tobacco, fishing, agriculture and oil trade. It is estimated that up to 70 million tons of freight are handled annually. As the largest city in the Gulf of Gilbrata, the city of Algeciras is strongly supported by the port trade. The three areas where the Port of Algeciras competes most with other large European ports are transshipment, cargo and containers.
From January 2019, general cargo throughput at the port increased by 6.4%, with the port handling 92 million tons of cargo. This number is up 3% from 2018. The port also houses ro-ro and unloading services, a fishing fleet, cruise ships and fuel handling facilities.
2. Port of Valencia
The fifth busiest port in Europe is also the second largest in Spain: the Port of Valencia. The size of the port is impressive, with an annual cargo volume of 57 million tons. Annual container volume was 4.2 million TEUs in 2010, and this number has grown over the past decade.
Operated by the Port of Valencia Authority, it can accommodate vessels up to 500 feet long and is a port of call for ship repairs. The port offers two berthing surfaces and facilities such as VIP lounges, duty-free shops, personal assistance for travelers in need, public transport connections and a tourist information office.
The Port of Valencia also distributes cargo to North Africa and the European Union, with a radius of more than 2000 km.
3. Port of Barcelona
Barcelona is located on the northeastern coast of Spain, in the country's Catalonia province. The port has been around for over 2,000 years and is still going strong in terms of trade and port services. The port is an excellent partner for major European ports on the Mediterranean coast.
The Port of Barcelona experienced almost 3 million TEUs in 2017, with around 4 million passengers in the same period. Traffic flowing into the cruise portion of the port in 2019 added even more revenue following a €2 million renovation project to the port.
Compared to other ports, this port is closer to tourist areas, and they use these tourist attractions to build their portfolio in the cruise market. In terms of trade, the port's proximity to France makes it an important gateway for international trade.
The Port of Barcelona is divided into a commercial port, an old port and a logistics port. It also has a free trade zone.
4. Port of Bilbao
This port is located in Bilbao Abra Bay in the Basque Country, also known as the outer port. The port has been popular since the Middle Ages and is associated with the steel trade of the time.
Bilbao developed into a gateway to the Euro-Atlantic trade route. It has become the premier port for trade with Britain. As an important logistics player in trade along the Atlantic Corridor, the port has established infrastructure in dry ports and other logistics areas.
The cruise ship footprint at the Port of Bilbao is smaller, as they are still developing this side of the port business. Still, they saw 80,000 passengers from 58 cruise ships in their ports.
The Port of Bilbao is closely related to the economic growth of the Vizcaya region. Locals rely on the port for transportation, tourism, engineering, ship repair, and other income-generating activities.
5. Port of Castellon
Located in the city of Castellon de la Plana, this port is the youngest compared to other major ports in Spain, but the number is impressive. It is a logistics port with an average growth rate five times that of other ports of similar size in Spain. It is the leading logistics service provider for the local economy of Castellon, with a freight capacity of more than 20 million tons in 2018.
Castellón is a well-known area, known for the production of ceramics by the city's tile factories. The Port of Castellón is responsible for shipping 95% of ceramic exports from Spain to the rest of the world. The area is also home to the only oil refinery in the Valencia region, so it also handles and transports large quantities of refined and unrefined petroleum products as well as chemicals.
