Bilbao, a port of growth and projects for a sustainable and competitive future

The Port of Bilbao is a logistics, industrial and energy hub, providing solutions customised to the needs of its customers and the businesses of its hinterland to help them grow and, at the same time, contribute to the economic and social development of the region. The port is not only equipped with terminals, warehouses, services and professionals to handle, advise on and load/unload any type of traffic, of any nature and size for anywhere in the world, but is also home to manufacturing and/or processing plants and terminals used to assemble parts and export them all around the world. It also houses an industrial complex where energy of all kinds is produced, leading the energy transformation and promoting renewable energy projects.

The port has connections with over 900 other ports around the world, mainly on the Atlantic coastlines of Europe, North America and South America, and with Asia. Due to its capabilities and strategic location, Bilbao is a strategic port for the development of #GreenMaritimeCorridors, and a key player in establishing the EU-backed #HydrogenCorridors to distribute hydrogen from the Iberian Peninsula to northern and central Europe.

The port community has extensive experience in handling goods of all types. In the first half of 2024, the Port of Bilbao handled 18 million tonnes of goods, an increase of almost 10% and 1.6 million more than the same period last year. Over that same six-month period, passenger traffic was up 10%, with 105,650 people travelling to or from Bilbao by ferry or cruise ship.

For Bilbao to further consolidate its position as the port of reference in the north of Spain, the Port Authority has set its sights on the future. Several projects are currently underway to drive and help support the port and its customers in their efforts to meet the requirements and cope with the impact of the energy transition, to sustain the competitiveness of industry in the port hinterland by adapting its infrastructures and services to company needs, and to step up its efforts to contribute to the social and economic environment. These initiatives include the final phase of the expansion of the port in the Outer Abra, works on which began in the 1990s and will be completed with the second phase of the construction of the central breakwater, the contract for which was awarded on 24 July. These works will generate a new port area of 31.2 hectares and 1,011 linear metres of new berthing quays, 664 linear metres on the new A3 Dock and 347 linear metres as an extension of the current A4 Dock.

The electrification of the docks is another initiative being taken forward by the Port Authority of Bilbao to improve both service and sustainability. The BilbOPS project will require an investment of 78 million euros, 14.2 million of which will be co-funded by the European Commission within the CEF Transport 2021-2027 Programme. Furthermore, provisions include that, by the time the project comes into operation in 2025, 20% of the power generated will be of renewable origin, with a view to this figure reaching 50% by 2028.

Another initiative being rolled out to improve the port facilities is the replacement and upgrading of the current wastewater system with an innovative vacuum system. The planned cost of the first two phases of this project, being taken forward on a joint basis and in collaboration with the Basque Water Agency (URA) and the Bilbao Bizkaia Water Consortium ( Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia ), is 20 million euros, part of which will be co-funded by #EUNextGeneration funds, specifically the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The business world is also committed to the Port of Bilbao, to economic growth, to sustainability and to the circular economy, with major investments in port facilities already underway or pending authorisation. The port is currently home to investments totalling around 700 million euros, 78% of which is private and is mostly earmarked for fuel plants and synthetic aggregates, renewable hydrogen, recycling of all kinds, biofuels and wind power components. All of these initiatives will play a key role in helping ensure sustainable economic and social growth for the port and its hinterland.