The Port of Barcelona closed the first half of 2016 with positive performance across its main traffic indicators. In these first six months, the Port recorded 2.44 million passenger movements (+4.1%). Ferry traffic showed positive growth, increasing by 2.5%, and cruise ship visitors to the city rose by 3.4%, slightly exceeding one million.
During the presentation of the results, the CEO of the Port of Barcelona, Àlex Garcia, highlighted the port's ability to maintain positive growth in an international context marked by geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainty. In this regard, he noted that “the traffic figures for the first half of the year demonstrate the Port of Barcelona's adaptability and resilience in the face of an increasingly complex global environment. The diversification of markets, clients, and logistics chains allows us to continue growing and maintain the competitiveness of our business sector.”.
One of the factors influencing traffic trends in recent months has been the situation in the Persian Gulf and the tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Despite this context, the Port has maintained growth in liquid bulk cargo thanks to the diversification of supply sources and the strong performance of chemicals and biofuels.
Àlex Garcia emphasized that “geopolitical tensions have once again highlighted the importance of having resilient and diversified logistics chains. The Port of Barcelona has demonstrated its ability to adapt quickly to market changes and guarantee the supply of essential products for the economy.”.
The positive performance of traffic comes during a semester in which many of the projects being developed by the Port of Barcelona have begun to materialize. In just six months, significant progress has been made in its logistical, energy, and technological transformation; the largest investment cycle in its history has been consolidated; and its role as an engine of the economy and international trade has been reinforced.
Among the various projects that will define the port of the future, the following stand out: the tender for the major road interchange of the new land access routes; the awarding of the new berths for liquid bulk cargo at the Energy Wharf; the awarding of the contract for the electrical infrastructure that will complete the electrification of the Adosado Wharf; and the partial handover of several projects related to the new rail access routes and the Nou Llobregat terminal. This set of infrastructures forms the basis for the future growth of the Port and the concentration of logistics activity in the southern area.
José Alberto Carbonell, president of the Port of Barcelona, took the opportunity during his speech to announce a strategic development for the future growth of the port's southern area. Radioelectric compatibility studies, conducted in recent months by technicians from the Port of Barcelona and ENAIRE, the state air navigation service provider, and whose results were recently released, conclude that the planned port activity at the future Catalunya and Jaume I docks is compatible with both the current operations of Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport and the configuration planned after its expansion. This conclusion allows the Port to proceed with its planned growth projects in the southern area, where a large part of the container traffic will be concentrated in the coming decades.
José Alberto Carbonell has given a very positive assessment of the study results and emphasized that “this is a decisive step because it provides security and certainty regarding the future development of the Port. The conclusions of the studies demonstrate that the airport's growth and the development of the Port's southern area are fully compatible and allow us to move forward with two strategic projects for the competitiveness and prosperity of Barcelona and Catalonia. Today we know that we can continue building the Port of the future with complete confidence.”.
The president of the Port of Barcelona also recalled that exactly one year ago an agreement was signed with ENAIRE for the purchase and installation, in a new location, of a primary and secondary radar, with an investment of 4.5 million euros by the Port of Barcelona.
The first half of the year has also seen the consolidation of projects aimed at generating new economic activity and attracting investment to the region. Among the most noteworthy initiatives are the construction of Elian's new industrial plant, with an investment exceeding €200 million; the start of the concession process for the future multipurpose public maritime terminal at the Príncep d'Espanya dock, which has received three bids—from Manipuladora de Mercancías, Boluda Maritime Terminals, and Andino Inversiones Global; the authorization of Baleària's new ro-ro terminal; and the start of construction on ICO's new vehicle terminal, designed to strengthen Barcelona's position as a logistics and automotive hub in Southern Europe.
The transformation of the Port of Barcelona is also progressing in the energy sector. During the first half of the year, progress has been made in the electrification of the docks, with the awarding of the contract for the OPS system for the future G Cruise Terminal and the necessary electrical infrastructure to power the terminals on the Adosado dock.
At the same time, the Port continues to strengthen its role as a leading energy hub in the Mediterranean by promoting alternative fuels and zero-emission mobility. In this regard, it has been awarded the contract for the construction and operation of the Port's first hydrogen refueling station, and recently carried out one of the first bioethanol refueling operations on a container ship.
The first half of the year has also reinforced the Port of Barcelona's commitment to innovation and the blue economy. In January, the foundation stone was laid for the future BlueTechPort, a project that mobilizes €60 million and will become one of Europe's leading hubs specializing in the blue economy, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
During these months, initiatives such as the agreement with AltaSea in the Port of Los Angeles have also been promoted; the development of the project for the first digital twin of the seabed of the Port of Barcelona, by the BCN Port Innovation Foundation; and the establishment of a strategic alliance with the port authorities of Shanghai to advance in areas such as digitalization, security, sustainable maritime corridors and alternative fuels.
One year of rollout of the cruise agreement
Coinciding with the first anniversary of the agreement between the Port of Barcelona and the Barcelona City Council for the transformation of cruise activity, José Alberto Carbonell has taken stock of this first year and announced the closure of Terminal C at the Adosado dock, which will receive its last cruise ship on October 30, and of the South Terminal at the Barcelona dock, whose last cruise ship call will take place on December 31.
The Port has also made progress during these months in the electrification of cruise terminals, has promoted the urban corridor of the waterfront, has reactivated the Council for Cruise Sustainability and is finalizing the study of the mobility linked to this activity.
These actions are part of the common goal of moving towards a higher value-added cruise model that is more sustainable and better integrated with the city.
To conclude the presentation of results, the President of the Port of Barcelona summarized the first six months, stating that “this year demonstrates that the Port does more than just manage traffic. We are building the infrastructure, connectivity, energy solutions, and innovation ecosystems that will guarantee the competitiveness of the Port of Barcelona and the economy as a whole for decades to come.”
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