The advantages of setting up your own logistics centre in a port. But in which one?
The main way of moving goods today is maritime transport. Around 85% of the goods that are moved in the world do so by sea. And ports are essential for this type of transport.
The security, speed, flexibility and efficiency of ports are a relevant marker for the economy of our country. For this reason, ports do not usually operate independently, but rather connected to a ZAL (Logistic Activities Zone). Areas that add value, providing storage, grouping and ungrouping, packaging, palletising, labelling and even production services.
Having good facilities and services that minimise work, travel and downtime, as well as having connections with other means of transport, helps to attract and retain customers. In other words, it attracts more cargo, more ships and, as a consequence, more business.
An agile and fluid connection between these ZALs and the ports is key to improving their competitiveness, as well as that of the region and even the country, within the international framework.
Taking into account these essential parameters, we find the 5 most important ports in the country: Algeciras, Valencia, Barcelona, Bilbao and Castellón.
However, since we all do not fit in these 5 ports, today, in VALL, as specialists in logistics centres,we want to tell you about another 3 that aim to substantially improve their positioning in the coming years.
– Introduction: understand the integral functioning of the ZALs
– The port of Alicante: the Mediterranean corridor grows stronger
– The port of Seville: in search of innovation and environmental commitment
– The port of Santander: an emerging bet to connect with Europe
Introduction: understand the integral functioning of the ZALs
With the ZALs, have become integrated points in the chain of production, marketing and distribution of goods. Now they are important information centres in which data is collected and services are developed. For this reason, we see development and promotion activities more integrated each day, such as training, programs to promote logistic communication or assistance to the end customer.
Ultimately, ZALs function as business hubs, in which the concentration of capital and talent promote synergies and the creation of new economic activities. In addition, they are beginning to become ideal spaces to address technological innovations.
The companies that are integrated into the port ZALs, today, can access more complete and efficient infrastructures, improve their contacts and save money, by bringing their merchandise closer to the port and reducing road transfers.
The competent authorities are aware of the great economic and development potential of ports. But they also understand that a port not only connects the merchandise with the sea but that it is also vital for business development to have good intermodal transport connections. So, more and more, we will see efforts from the administrations to bring the train (a clean, fast and large capacity means) closer to these ZALs and guarantee additional services to all those who settle in them.
The port of Alicante: the Mediterranean corridor grows stronger
Among the ports that we want to present to you today, the port of Alicante stands out. A port overshadowed by two of the most important in the country: Valencia and Castellón. A node that, for the moment, is still limited to the loading of containers and, to a lesser extent, marble.
However, this port is beginning to be very present in the media. Undoubtedly, it has shown to have a clear vocation for service, communication and development. In it, activities and proposals of great relevance to understand the future of ports proliferate, such as the Port-Logistics Technology Forum or the Commercial Observatory. Platforms designed to transform the economic and logistical information collected at the port into attractive services adapted to the needs of companies.
At the service level, as a privileged enclave in the Mediterranean corridor, the port of Alicante will soon launch a service to process customs certificates. This new service will facilitate the work of exporting companies, both in the province and in the neighbouring provinces, whether they are shipped in the port of Alicante or in other national ports.
The intention of the Alicante port is to speed up the movement of cargo and avoid the long waiting lines that occur in ports such as Algeciras, Valencia or Bilbao. Without a doubt, another claim for companies to divert their shipments to this port.
Someone who has decided to bet clearly on this port is the multinational logistics company Dachser, which has acquired an area of 51,364m2 for its facilities, including a 13,000m2 industrial warehouse and an office building of about 2,300m2.
Its main drawback is that it is not yet fully connected to the Mediterranean Corridor railway network, although it is expected that the project will advance in the coming months and years to optimise the connections that, now, are maintained, above all, by road.
The port of Seville: in search of innovation and environmental commitment
If what you are looking for is a port committed to the environment and entrepreneurship, a great option would be the river port of Seville, which plans to allocate a significant part of Next Generation European funds to projects that minimise its environmental impact.
On the one hand, there is the development of the wind logistics hub to turn the port into a benchmark for renewable energies. And, on the other hand, regional administrations are betting on hydrogen-powered vehicles, to decarbonise mobility, inside and outside the port. These engines will be integrated into buses, ambulances, fire trucks and other service vehicles.
These two ecological projects join the environmental projects already promoted by the port of Seville for the conservation of biodiversity.
Seville is also clearly going to bet on the latest generation digitisation of logistics-port operations and the automation of rail traffic with the Ferro Port System project.
To all this we must add the expected growth of its docks, with a 32,000m2 cargo terminal for the Aldeport company. And the approval of the future University Innovation Centre that will have 10,600m2 and whose objective is the transfer of knowledge and the development of R + D + i in the port area. This centre will support entrepreneurship and promote the intersection, consolidation and growth of the port’s business fabric. An activity that will start before the year 2023, as agreed in its approval.
As an important fact, we also want to highlight that the total investment expected, between public and private funds, in the port of Seville during the coming years, amounts to 500 million euros. A strong injection that will undoubtedly serve as a claim for many companies.
The port of Santander: an emerging bet to connect with Europe
We wanted to make a brief review of the port of Santander, above all, due to the good intentions that public organisations are showing to make it grow at the level of its Bilbao and Asturian neighbours.
With a committed investment of 100 million euros and the creation, finally, of a railway line that connects it with Madrid and Bilbao, this port has many possibilities for growth.
La Pasiega, the 870,000m2 logistics centre that will be connected to the port and will be 10 minutes from the train and the airport, will be the great engine for its international development. A node with the United Kingdom that aims to break the Brexit barriers.
At VALL we like to closely follow all the news that occurs in ports and bring them to the attention of our clients, with the aim of helping them find the best location for the removable industrial buildings that we manufacture and assemble ourselves.
Whatever port is chosen for the production and logistic work, we always recommend removable, resistant and versatile warehouses. Because times do not stop changing and a VALL warehouse will always allow you to resize your business and even move it, depending on your needs.
References: EuropaPress, ABC, informacion.es, Terzer.