ThePort of Algecirashas received the institutional visit of a delegation from thePort of Ningbo Zhoushan, the hub that moves the most goods in the world, as part of an agenda focused on strengthening logistical and commercial cooperation between both strategic nodes. The Chinese delegation has been led byZhu Miao, general director ofZhejiang Seaport Group, and has been welcomed by the president of the Port Authority of Algeciras,Gerardo Landaluce, along with the general director of the institution,José Luis Hormaechea, as well as representatives of entities such as COMPORT, ATEIA, the Chamber of Commerce andAndalucía TRADE.
During the day, the delegation visited the logistical grounds of the ZAL of Guadarranque, before moving to the port area to get first-hand knowledge of some of its most advanced infrastructures. Among them, the semi-automatic terminal of TTI Algeciras and the Process Control Center (CCP), from where key operational efficiency indicators are monitored, in line with the demands of the main international shipping companies.
The Port of Algeciras is considered the most efficient in Europe according to the World Bank, a positioning that reinforces its role as a strategic hub in international maritime traffic. In this sense, it maintains a direct connection with China through four main services linking six ports in the Asian country. In fact, the route between Algeciras and Ningbo offers the fastest transit between China and Spain, with an estimated time of 31 days for exports.
The Chinese market currently represents 20% of the container traffic at the Andalusian port, which highlights the relevance of this commercial relationship. The ties between both ports were solidified in 2018 when they signed a cooperation agreement during the visit to Spain of the Chinese presidentXi Jinping, thus formalizing a memorandum aimed at strengthening the maritime bridge between China and southern Europe.
This visit is also part of the institutional trip that the Chinese delegation is making through Spain to promote the Port Cooperation Forum of the Maritime Silk Road, which has had one of its stops inMadrid, with the participation of the Chinese ambassadorYao Jingand the president of the Port Authority of Algeciras himself in a round table focused on green and innovative ports.
With this meeting, both port infrastructures advance in strengthening their strategic relations, consolidating themselves as key logistical nodes in the maritime axis between Asia and Europe.