Trade Routes
Spain
The Port of Barcelona has a 2000-year history and a great contemporary commercial importance. It is Europe's ninth largest container port, with a trade volume of 2.3 million TEU's in 2006. The port is managed by the Port Authority of Barcelona. Its 7.86 km2 (3 sq mi) are divided into three zones: Port Vell (the Old Port), the commercial port and the logistics port (Barcelona Free Port). The port is undergoing an enlargement that will double its size thanks to diverting the mouth of the Llobregat river 2 km (1¼ mi) to the south.
Valencia’s port is the biggest on the Mediterranean Western coast, the first of Spain in Container Traffic as 2008 and the second of Spain in total traffic, handling 20% of Spain’s exports. The main exports are food and drink, furniture, ceramic tiles, fans, textiles and iron products. Valencia’s manufacturing sector focuses on metallurgy, chemicals, textiles, shipbuilding and brewing.
Owing to its strategic location, the Port of Cartagena has been throughout all of its history a required referent in Mediterranean shipping. At present, it has consolidated as a basic industrial port within the Spanish Port System, occupying sixth place in the goods traffic among the 28 ports that make up the General Interest Ports in Spain.
The results of the traffic of goods for the year 2005 meant a new record in the port's history, as 26.7 million tons were handled, almost 15% more than in 2004. Both solid bulks and general goods have grown more than 30%, handling 6 million tons of these cargoes. In any case, the liquid bulks continue being the main traffic in the port of Cartagena , handling over 20 million tons.