Spanish ports are taking advantage of the current sustained growth in maritime traffic to add new infrastructure to allow them to better compete with northern European hubs, such as Rotterdam. They have long argued it makes sense for most of southern Europe to be served via Mediterranean ports and not via the continent’s northern hubs.
Algeciras, Valencia and Barcelona have all posted strong growth in container traffic and are now among Europe’s 10 leading box-handling facilities.
Valencia is in the forefront, planning investment of €1.2bn in a fourth box terminal, effectively doubling existing capacity. It can already handle 7.5m teu and has posted throughput this year of more than 5m teu.
Barcelona is planning a third container terminal, since APMT’s facility is already full and BEST is operating at 85% capacity.
Once new stevedoring legislation is in place, Algeciras also plans to put a third container terminal out to concession.
