Which transportation method to choose for delivering cargo to Spain, transit opportunities and export of goods from Spain

Spain is one of the largest and most economically powerful countries in the European Union. The economy of Spain ranks fifth in the EU and twelfth in the world. However, the country faces significant problems, the main one being a considerable gap in the economic development of different regions. The industrial and wealthy Catalonia is trying to separate from the rest of the country. A similar situation exists in the Basque Country.

Spain is known as one of the leading countries in the production of car parts, machinery and equipment for industry, audio and video equipment, footwear, and other mid-level technology goods. Modern high-tech industries in the country are underdeveloped.

Transportation opportunities in Spain

Spain is a highly developed EU country, and naturally, all types of modern transport are used there. Appropriate infrastructure has been created for road, air, water, and rail transport. Modern logistics requires not only ensuring the movement of goods but also providing the necessary equipment for these routes, allowing for quick and quality loading and unloading operations and storage of cargo. All necessary infrastructure for cargo flows in Spain has been established.

On land, Spain borders France, Andorra, and Portugal. The maritime coasts face the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. All this allows Spain to be used not only as a destination country for cargo but also as a transit corridor in international trade. Through the Strait of Gibraltar, which has a width of 14 to 44 km, Spain is connected to Africa.

Road transport infrastructure in Spain

For cargo transportation by road, the main necessary infrastructure is the roads, and they exist in Spain. The quality of Spanish roads meets European standards, meaning that the presence of a road on the map not only indicates that it can be traveled but also guarantees that the trip will be pleasant. The quality of the road surface will be good, and there will be gas stations, cafes, and other infrastructure for drivers and passengers along the road.

The total length of roads in Spain exceeds 693 thousand km. Almost all of them have a solid surface. The highways extend over 16.5 thousand km. 3 thousand km of highways are toll roads. Additionally, there will be fees for passing through certain tunnels. The cost of traveling on toll sections of Spanish roads will depend not only on the type of transport and the distance traveled on the toll highway but also on the season and even the time of day.

Air transport in Spain

Spain has established a powerful infrastructure for receiving and dispatching modern aircraft. The total number of airports in the country is 152. Some of them are used for local and regional transport, while others have international status. The most well-known airports are:

• Madrid.
• Barcelona.
• Palma de Mallorca.
• Malaga.
• Gran Canaria.
• Alicante.
• Tenerife.
• Ibiza.
• Lanzarote.
• Valencia.
• Seville.
• Fuerteventura.
• Tenerife.
• Bilbao.
• Girona.

Sea transport in Spain

The presence of access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea provides Spain with all the opportunities not only for its own maritime transport but also for international cargo transit. The share of cargo transported to and from non-EU countries is also high in Spain. In container transport, Spain has reached first place in Europe.

In the Mediterranean Sea, the main Spanish ports are located in the cities of:

• Algeciras.
• Barcelona.
• Valencia.
• Cartagena.
• Malaga.
• Palma de Mallorca.

In the Atlantic Ocean, the main Spanish ports are located in:

• Bilbao.
• Cádiz.
• Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
• Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
• Ferrol.

Rail transport in Spain

The width of the railway gauge in Spain has several standards. There are:

• 1392 km of standard gauge tracks for Europe — 1435 mm. 1054 km of them are electrified.
• 11919 km of tracks with a gauge of 1668 mm. 6958 km of them are electrified.

Additionally, there are narrow-gauge tracks with a gauge of 1000 mm and 914 mm. The total length of railway tracks in Spain is 15293 km.

Spain is actively developing railway lines for high-speed transport. If plans are fulfilled, by 2020 the length of such lines will reach 7 thousand km.

What goods does Spain export

Spain exports passenger and cargo vehicles, car parts, petroleum products, and pharmaceuticals.