Port logistics at the service of the fruit and vegetable trade

The strategic location of the port, its excellent connectivity with the Iberian Peninsula and the markets of the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and Northern Europe, and its collaboration with MercaBilbao , the largest distribution centre for perishable foodstuffs in the North of Spain and the South of France, are all factors which contribute to making the Port of Bilbao a key partner for the logistics of the Spanish fruit and vegetable sector, which exported 46% of its production in 2023.

In 2024, close to 3 million tonnes of goods from the agricultural, livestock and food sector passed through the Port of Bilbao, including some 107,000 tonnes of fruit. From 5 to 7 February, the Bilbao Port Authority will be showcasing its facilities and services for efficient, safe and traceable trade in fruit and vegetable products at the stand of Puertos del Estado / The State Ports Authority (Hall 25, Stand A61) at FRUIT LOGISTICA , the world's leading trade fair for the fresh produce business and a meeting point for the sector.

As a key competitive factor, Bilbao boasts an extensive network of dry ports providing weekly container services to and from La Rioja, Catalonia, Aragon, Castilla la Mancha, Valencia, Murcia and Andalusia. The fact that it also has its own rail-port terminals makes Bilbao a leading port in intermodality, with rail use accounting for around 30% of containerised traffic.

In terms of sustainability, the Port Authority is also taking important steps to improve the service provided to companies in the Spanish fruit and vegetable sector. Of particular note in this respect is the BilbOPS project, financed with the Port's own resources and a 14.2 million euro grant under the CEF Transport 2021-2027 programme of the European Commission , to electrify port terminals and thus reduce vessel emissions by at least 39%.

The Border Control Post (BCP), amongst the most advanced in Europe.

Products of animal and plant origin from non-EU countries, whether for human or non-human consumption, are subject to strict controls to ensure compliance with EU regulations. As essential links in the logistics chain, ports play a key role in preventing the entry of prohibited foodstuffs into the EU, in the early detection of potential microbiological problems, and in the prevention of pests or diseases that could threaten crops, animal welfare and/or human health. The objective is to maintain a safe food supply chain for the end consumer.

In this respect, the Port of Bilbao features a state-of-the-art Border Control Post, one of the most advanced in Spain, offering extensive facilities and resources for logistics. The BCP has two distinct areas: the administrative area and the inspection area. The high-capacity inspection area has 15 loading/unloading bays and is equipped with cutting-edge industrial refrigeration systems, thermal insulation and easy-to-clean, resistant and durable finishes, all designed to ensure optimum conditions for fruit and vegetable logistics at all times.?

Additionally, the BCP of the Port of Bilbao holds all the necessary authorisations for the control of products of animal origin, of non-animal origin, animal feedstuffs, vegetables, vegetable products, wood and wood-derived products. Another stand-out feature is the e-puertobilbao online platform for seamless operational coordination between all relevant stakeholders, such as customs agents, inspection services, tax inspection services and transporters, thereby effectively ensuring a one-stop-shop BCP service.

As from 23 January 2025, the inspection of fruits, vegetables, coffee, tea, mate and spices (goods of chapters 07, 08 and 09) will be unified at the BPC, incorporating both sanitary and phytosanitary controls. This effectively means that only one CEXVEG application will need to be submitted and only one official inspection will be conducted, bringing together all the actions previously performed by two services (CEXVEG and TRACES), eliminating redundancies, reducing inspection times and maintaining high standards of food safety and plant health.