Port steaming ahead

VALENCIA has consolidated its position as the busiest cargo port in the Mediterranean, registering traffic of 81 million tons in 2019, an increase of almost 6%. Closest rival Barcelona saw a small reduction in traffic to around 68 million tons as the gap between the two giants widened. Valencia has the potential to expand significantly further if the proposed new terminal goes ahead. This would create an estimated 14,000 new jobs and generate 600 million euros for the Community. However, the impact on the environment remains the main issue before the green light is given, largely from construction and additional traffic, both maritime and road freight.