Spanish Logistics Sector: Supply Chain

SUPPLY
CHAIN

7. SPANISH LOGISTICS SECTOR
7.1 INTRODUCTION
Logistic activity needs to be supported by an efficient, sustainable and multimodal

transport system that allows its development. In this section we will get to know what
the Spanish logistics sector has to offer with regard to transport infrastructures, logistics
nodes and the existing planning. It should not be overlooked that one of the greatest
advantages of Spain is its geographical location which allows connections with Latin
America or North Africa.
7.2 TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
Transport infrastructures make up the physical network that channels the flow of goods
and, consequently, constitute an essential part of the logistics chain.
The road network is the most developed transport infrastructure, presenting an

extensive geographical network of 165,907 km in length, which enables companies to
have universal access to the territory to a greater extent than that provided by other
modes of transport. Of the entire network, 14,701 km are high-capacity roads (toll roads
and highways), which is why Spain is currently the country with the longest roadways of
this kind in Europe.
The Spanish railway network, with a total of 15,781 km, is managed by ADIF
(conventional network, high speed and metric gauge), FGC, FGV, ETS and TP Ferro.
Ports are a key element because most of the imports and exports of goods are
channelled through them. The Spanish port system is composed of 46 ports of general
interest, managed by 28 port authorities.
The main peninsular air cargo airports are Madrid (Barajas), Barcelona (El Prat), Vitoria,
Zaragoza and Valencia. Regarding the non-peninsular airports, the airports of Gran
Canaria, Tenerife Norte and Palma de Mallorca are the best known ones.
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7.3 LOGISTICS NODES
The logistic nodes are merchandise exchange points where activities that add value to
the transport chain are carried out, such as handling, processing and, where
appropriate, storage of the merchandise.
A description of the logistics nodes in Spain can be found below, classified into:
✓ Road transport centres.

✓ Railway installations for ADIF.
✓ Railway terminals.
✓ Particular derivations.
✓ Dry ports and inland marine terminals.
✓ Logistics activity zones.
✓ Air cargo centres.
7.4 ROAD TRANSPORT CENTRES
Road transport centres are logistical platforms for road transport.
They have a consolidated logistics area and a service area that provides services to
people and vehicles as well as administrative centres of transport companies and cargo
hiring centres. In addition, transport centres provide service to a large number of
companies in the transport sector in their area of influence.
Figure 4 shows the location of the main centres of road transport in Spain. As we can
see, the greatest concentration of road transport centres corresponds to the large
metropolitan areas of Madrid and Barcelona. It also highlights the concentration that
exists in the Basque country and Galicia. The distribution in the rest of the Peninsula is
considerably sparser.

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Figure 4
7.5 RAILWAY TRANSPORT HUBS
The ADIF network of railway facilities or terminals is made up of those facilities that ADIF
puts at the service of different railway companies to simplify modal interchange and the
transport of goods through rail.
According to the network statement of 2013, ADIF has 57 main logistics facilities, 47 of
which remain open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for access and dispatch of trains. In
addition, it has 107 logistics facilities managed under a self-provision regime. In Figure
5 we can see the ADIF logistics facilities classified according to the number of trains.
Figure 5
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7.6 PORT AND RAILWAY TRANSPORT HUBS
Port and railway terminals are those rail terminals that are located in the ports they
serve and form a complex of railroads.
The connection agreements between the respective Port Authorities and ADIF regulate
the rail connection of the ports with the rest of the General Interest Rail Network
(known in Spanish by the acronym RFIG). However, not all Spanish ports with railway
connection have signed this agreement, which does not prevent traffic through them.
Figure 6 shows the Ports of General Interest as they have rail connection to the RFIG and
connection agreement in August 2013.
The following can be seen:
✓ Seventeen have railway connection to the RFIG and a connection agreement.

✓ Four have a railway connection to the RFIG, but not a connection agreement.
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✓ Four have no railway connection to the RFIG, which are: Motril, Almería, San
Cibrao and Sagunto.

Figure 6
7.7 AIR TRANSPORT HUBS
The main air cargo centres are located at these airports:
▪ Madrid: Barajas.
▪ Barcelona: El Prat.
▪ Zaragoza.
▪ Vitoria.
▪ Valencia.
There is a description of each of them below.

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Madrid - Barajas air cargo centre
The Madrid - Barajas air cargo centre is the centre with the highest density of airfreight
in Spain, with more than 200 established companies. Developed in two phases, the first
on 32.5 ha, and the second on 8.8 ha, with a total of 41.3 ha of available area.
There is a general service building with a floor area of 15,210 m2, located at the main
entrance of the centre, which is its epicentre. This building houses more than 125
companies involved in the activity of air transport of goods, airlines, forwarding and
customs agents, among others.
▪ Barcelona - El Prat air cargo centre

The air cargo of Barcelona - El Prat Centre has an area of 40 ha and is home to more than
80 companies involved in the airfreight transport logistics chain. In the general services
building, the most important airlines, forwarding and customs agents, among others,
can be found.
▪ Valencia air cargo centre

The air cargo centre in Valencia has a surface area of 3.1 ha on the first line, with
warehouses for cargo handling and cargo auto handling activities, and a second- line
area of 2.8 hectares with warehouses for transitions and logistics operations. In
addition, the centre has a border inspection post (BIP) and a three-storey General
Service building.
▪ Zaragoza air cargo centre

The airport of Zaragoza has a logistics area of approximately 10,000 m2, which houses
four facilities, developed in different stages, for the activity of handling companies,
integrators and other logistics operators.

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▪ Victoria air cargo centre

The Vitoria airport has an air cargo activity area that includes a total of five logistics
warehouses. With a total area of more than 12,000 m2, this logistics zone houses
handling companies, integrators and other logistics operators.
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Spanish Logistics Sector: Supply Chain

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SUPPLY

Logistic activity needs to be supported by an efficient, sustainable and multimodal

7.2 TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

The road network is the most developed transport infrastructure, presenting an

✓ Road transport centres.

7.4 ROAD TRANSPORT CENTRES

Road transport centres are logistical platforms for road transport.

7.5 RAILWAY TRANSPORT HUBS

7.6 PORT AND RAILWAY TRANSPORT HUBS

The following can be seen:

✓ Seventeen have railway connection to the RFIG and a connection agreement.

7.7 AIR TRANSPORT HUBS

The main air cargo centres are located at these airports:

▪ Barcelona - El Prat air cargo centre

▪ Valencia air cargo centre

▪ Zaragoza air cargo centre

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