Valenciaport (Port of Valencia) - Experts & Thought Leaders

The Port Authority of Valencia (APV) has renewed its Port Environmental Review System (PERS) certification from the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), the most widely recognised environmental standard in the European port sector. Valenciaport was the first European port to obtain this certification in 2003, and this year it has been renewed for the eighth consecutive time. This distinction highlights the port’s environmental management and the joint efforts of the entire port community to move towards a more sustainable model. The president of the APV, Mar Chao López, emphasised that this ‘endorses the path we are taking towards Valenciaport’s zero emissions target, reconciling the reduction of environmental impact with commercial and technological growth’, and that it is in line with the 2035 Strategic Plan, which includes promoting sustainable growth and innovation among its objectives. A commitment that is measured and improved PERS certification attests to transparency and continuous improvement in environmental management at ports, and compliance is independently assessed by Lloyd’s Register, an international organisation specialising in maritime engineering and technology. The certificate is valid for two years, after which it is reviewed to ensure that the port continues to meet the required standards. Valenciaport is an active member of EcoPorts, the leading environmental network in the European port sector, which brings together more than 100 ports from 25 countries committed to sustainability and cooperation on environmental issues. Sustainable growth and innovation The APV’s actions are carried out under the premise of reconciling growth with sustainability. Its Ecoport programme, in which numerous companies from the port community participate, establishes common environmental objectives, such as the implementation of energy and environmental management systems, the calculation of carbon footprints and the transparent communication of results to society. Valenciaport is registered with the European Union’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and has an energy management system certified under the ISO 50001 standard. It was also the first Spanish Port Authority to register the carbon footprint of a port facility with the Ministry for Ecological Transition. The 2035 Strategic Plan, presented this year, reinforces this sustainable and digital vision. Among its goals, it aims to concentrate 45% of the Spanish port system’s import and export container traffic, create 80,000 direct and indirectjobs, and consolidate Valenciaport as a benchmark for innovation and energy transition in the Mediterranean.

Connectivity, quality, safety and infrastructures. These are the strengths of the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) in the international fruit and vegetable fair ‘Fruit Attraction’, which is being held at the IFEMA exhibition centre in Madrid from 8 to 10 October. Located in the stand of Puertos del Estado, Valenciaport has attended this event with a sales team led by Cristina Rodríguez, head of containers. Thus, during these three days, the PAV is highlighting its excellent international connectivity through 92 regular services with the whole world and strengthening its commercial relations with customers, suppliers and professionals in temperature-controlled transport and logistics. Traffic of perishable products This is possible thanks to the reefer connections of its terminals: CSP Iberian (Cosco) has 1,500 connections In this sense, the PAV is strengthening – with better facilities, differential services and its commitment to multimodality – the logistics aimed at the traffic of perishable products, an essential sector for many Spanish industries that channel the fruit and vegetables they export to the five continents through the Valencian docks. Every year, an average of around three million tonnes of fish, meat products and fruit and vegetables from all over Spain (fruit, citrus fruits, vegetables, tubers, etc.) enter and leave the Valencian docks. This is possible thanks to the reefer connections of its terminals: CSP Iberian (Cosco) has 1,500 connections, APM (Maersk) has 750 and MSC Terminal another 1,000. Infrastructures provided by the terminal companies, to which must be added the warehouse of the Agro Merchants Group company – which has 16,000 square metres destined exclusively for the logistics of refrigerated products –, the 17,000 square metre Border Control Post (PCF) which, through the Guarantee Mark, guarantees that any container taken to these facilities must be checked in less than 45 minutes and the Border Control Post of the Port of Sagunto; all of these facilities have growing demands.

Valenciaport is a strategic enclave that facilitates trade for the Spanish economy and for exporting companies and, specifically, for companies involved in the wine trade that reach the five continents through the docks of Valenciaport. Spanish wine In fact, according to data from the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV), the wine produced in Spain and which leaves through the Valencian docks maintains trade relations with 132 countries.  Thus, in the last six months, 1,032,959 tonnes of wine have been handled from Valenciaport with destinations in America, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Europe. Maritime connectivity Maritime connectivity allows greater participation in international trade and better access to markets The PAV maintains connections with almost 1,000 ports in 168 different countries around the world.  In this sense, maritime connectivity allows greater participation in international trade and better access to markets and, therefore, Valenciaport is a strategic enclave for Spanish exporting companies. Italy leads in wine imports Italy is the country that buys the most Spanish wine: in 2024 it absorbed 29.2% of total traffic with 301,457 tonnes imported. Europe is the continent that buys the most wine from Spain, specifically 53.74% of the total exported. Thus, countries such as Greece, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Slovenia, France, Romania, and Germany have a large demand for the highly appreciated Spanish wine. Wine purchases in other continents The second position is occupied by the American continent, specifically, the United States alone buys 58,521 tonnes of wine through Valenciaport. A global vision shows that the American continent is an excellent buyer of Spanish wine that reaches places such as Argentina, Venezuela, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Puerto Rico, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, and Chile. For their part, Asian countries occupy third place in the ranking of continents, with China and Japan being the largest exporters with 80,656 and 48,084 tonnes respectively. High demand in Australia The Valencian docks are one of the main suppliers, as 4,501 tonnes have been imported Australia has an undisputed role in the global wine import market, with more than 33.5 million litres imported from all corners of the world in 2022. According to ICEX Spain Export and Investment, the Iberian Peninsula is in sixth place in terms of import volume. In this sense, the Valencian docks are one of the main suppliers, as 4,501 tonnes have been imported so far in 2024 from Valenciaport alone. Imports increased in New Zealand Wine imports into New Zealand and Australia have been increasing in recent years, except for 2020, when a drop was recorded because of the COVID-19 health crisis. According to figures recorded by Valenciaport in the first six months of 2024, New Zealand has already imported more than 1,000 tonnes.