Puertos del Estado launches work to assess the impact of the EU-ETS on port competitiveness

• The EU-ETS Observatory, presented today at the headquarters of Puertos del Estado, aims to analyze and forecast the potential loss of traffic for Spanish ports resulting from the application of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) to maritime transport.

04-06-2025 (Puertos del Estado). Puertos del Estado held today the inaugural meeting of the Observatory that will make it possible to quantify the impact of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) provisions on the state-owned port system. The initiative includes monitoring and forecasting services designed to support the Spanish Government in defending its interests on this matter before the European Commission and to complement the work already carried out by the Commission using its own resources.

Gustavo Santana, President of Puertos del Estado, emphasized during the presentation the importance of this study “to shed light and contribute with transparency and data to the review of the European regulation on this matter.” He also stressed: “From our strong commitment to decarbonization, we call for a global and equitable framework for all maritime sector stakeholders worldwide.”

Through the development of indicators, the Observatory — to be implemented by Shipping Business Consultants (SBC) in collaboration with the Centre for Innovation in Transport (CENIT) and Nextport — will assess the impact of this European regulation on emission generation, carbon leakage, and the loss or alteration of port traffic. The first results are expected after the summer.

Ultimately, the purpose of the Observatory is to detect evasive practices already occurring or likely to occur so that preventive actions can be taken; to evaluate and quantify the effects associated with the EU-ETS through indicators; and to support decision-making in the upcoming review of the EU-ETS Directive as stipulated by the regulation, including the definition of preventive or corrective measures.

The scope of the Observatory’s work will focus on container traffic as well as ro-ro traffic involving trucks and semi-trailers, whose routes could be affected by the application of these European provisions. The analysis of the regulation’s impact will include the ports of Algeciras Bay, Barcelona, Las Palmas, and Valencia.

LEADING THE WARNINGS ON THE IMPACTS

In the context of the fight against climate change, the decision to extend the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) to maritime transport was adopted in December 2022. As a result, shipping companies are now required to purchase allowances for greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere, as reported under the protocol defined by EU Regulation 2015/757.

Throughout the legislative process and since the partial entry into force of the measure on January 1, 2024, Spain — through the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, under which Puertos del Estado operates — has taken a leading role in the EU in analyzing and warning about the potential negative effects of this regulation. These include the diversion of routes and the relocation of maritime traffic hubs to non-EU ports where the environmental regulation does not apply.

Key risks to port competitiveness include the loss of strategic traffic for Europe, logistics offshoring, reduced maritime connectivity — with a corresponding loss of logistical sovereignty — and increased operational costs. Moreover, the intended goal of reducing carbon emissions will not be achieved if shipping companies choose to operate in neighboring non-European ports.