The presidents of the seven Andalusian ports have agreed to collaborate on developing joint strategies to address growing competition, particularly following Maersk’s decision to shift its container shipping operations from Algeciras to Tanger Med, according to Spanish media reports.
Maersk’s move deals a significant blow to southern Spanish ports and raises concerns that other maritime companies might follow suit. This situation has prompted Andalusian ports to strategize collectively to compete with Tanger Med.
Teófila Martínez, president of the Port of Cádiz, emphasized the importance of cooperation among Andalusian ports, stating that their main competitors are located in northern Morocco. « We are not competing against each other; we are collaborating because our competitors are in northern Morocco and northern Europe, » she explained.
Gerardo Landaluce, president of the Port Authority of Algeciras Bay, highlighted the need to enhance port connectivity to address this competition. « A localist approach is absolutely outdated, » he remarked. Rafael Carmona, president of the Port of Seville, added that the creation of a « railway highway » connecting Andalusian ports to the Spanish capital could boost their competitiveness against Moroccan ports.
While all the leaders acknowledged that the current port system is largely functional, they agreed that improvements are needed, particularly in rail integration, to strengthen support for the ports.
Rosario Soto, president of the Port of Almería, announced a €100 million investment to boost freight and passenger traffic, underscoring the strategic importance of this port in North African connections, particularly with Morocco. « The Almería Strait Crossing operation is the second-largest nationally. We have transported one million passengers through the Port of Almería—200,000 more than the airport in 2024, » Soto stated.
Source: leconomiste
