The Port of Valencia will increase its TEU traffic management capacity by five million TEUs thanks to the new terminal to be built in the northern area, which will enable the leading Spanish port in twenty-foot container traffic to take on the management of up to 12.5 million TEUs per year. Following the award of the contract on 1 July, the works are scheduled to begin after the summer, with a completion period of four years and an estimated value of 656.7 million euros.
The future macro-terminal will occupy an area of 137 hectares and will have almost two kilometres of berthing line. It will be equipped with state-of-the-art technologies to offer the highest performance in maritime and land operations, thus guaranteeing connectivity with markets all over the world. The project also includes the construction of an adjacent six-track, one-kilometre-long rail terminal, making it the largest in the country.
Increase in goods traffic in the first half of the year
After the fall in traffic recorded in 2023 in the majority of Spanish ports as a result of the instability of the international geopolitical situation, the first half of 2024 has been very positive, also for the Port of Valencia, which has handled 40.86 million tonnes of goods, almost 7% more than in the same period last year.
One of the main reasons for this increase is the role that the Levantine facility plays as a distribution centre for import-export traffic and international transhipments. For example, the exchange of goods across the Mediterranean with the Greek, Egyptian and Saudi ports stands out, with an increase of between 58% and 84%.
Moreover, the global nature of the operations is reinforced by the significant increases in traffic to destinations in the Red Sea (+65%), the Baltic countries (+43%) and Australia (+25%). However, its main trading partners continue to be China, the United States, Italy and Turkey.
Specialist in container traffic
The figures for the first half of the year ratify the container as the speciality of the Port of Valencia. If, despite the fall in traffic, it closed 2023 as leader, with 4.8 million TEUs (some 70,000 more than Bahía de Algeciras), up to 30 June this year it had already handled 2.7 million, 14% more.
72% of all goods passing through the Port of Valencia are containerised (78% if bulk cargo is excluded), which means that, taking into account the increases that are being experienced, it seems logical to think that, as will happen with the planned expansion of the Port of Barcelona, the construction of the new quay will increase the attractiveness of the Valencian facility.
If you need advice on any aspect related to the maritime transport of goods, at Startrans we are specialists in the management of the entire process, whatever the type of product and its destination. Do not hesitate to ask us.