Container traffic at Barcelona’s Port reaches pre-crisis “record number” of 2007

Madrid (ACN).- The President of the Port of Barcelona, ​​Sixte Cambra, said on Wednesday that the total container traffic had reached around one million TEUs for the full year (the reference unit for cargo ships, equivalent to 20 feet containers). “This is the record number of the best pre-crisis times, which happened in 2007” stated Cambra during an informational breakfast in Madrid. The President of the Port of Barcelona also underlined the change in trends since in 2007, in spite of the record number of containers, “more than 60% were imports; in 2013 over 60% were exported containers.”

For Sixte Cambra, this data “reflects” a change in tendencies in the Spanish economy, and demonstrates the ability “to be more competitive in terms of exports without monetary policy”.  “It has taken longer than other times, but it has finally resulted in this increase in exports which is so significant”, he remarked.

The most sustained recovery for car traffic

The President of the Port of Barcelona also highlighted the recovery of car traffic transiting trough the Port of Barcelona, stating that the recovery “had been the most sustained and the clearest” of all sectors. He said that since 2009, the Port had “grown every year” in this regard, and that 2013 was no exception, “growing by 6%.” Last year, 700,000 cars have transited through the Port, a “number equivalent to 2005 and 2006”. 

Sixte Cambra pointed out that the Port could have had between €50 and €60 million of extra revenues if it were not for the bonus policies set by the latest Spanish Government’s Reform on Ports regulations, which has been in force for the past three years. However, he stressed that “it is clearly positive that we were able to maintain the economic level of the Port, by making a contribution to businesses”.

The Port of Barcelona expects to maintain its 2013 income levels in 2014

Sixte Cambra stated that in 2014 the Port expected to maintain the income levels of 2013, despite having reduced rates by 5%. “We are confident about the increase in activity”, he stressed. In addition, the President of the Port said that one of the objectives was to further expand traffic, particularly with the south of France. This data will be detailed during a press conference organised this Friday by the Port of Barcelona to explain in depth its economic activity in 2013.