President's Welcome

From Puertos del Estado, we welcome you to this virtual space, which serves as a gateway to the world, because that is what ports are: our connection point to anywhere in the world.

Puertos del Estado is the public body under the Ministerio de Transportes y Movilidad Sostenible of Spain responsible for coordinating the state-owned port system, composed of 28 Port Authorities managing 46 ports of general interest.

Puertos del Estado promotes, supports, represents, and unites state-owned ports to create a safer, more interconnected, and sustainable system. The synergy between Puertos del Estado and the Port Authorities drives the transformation of the Spanish port system towards a more competitive model that addresses future challenges.

While Spanish ports have been witnesses and protagonists of centuries of history, the state-owned port system celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022. It has been 30 years since Puertos del Estado and the Port Authorities were created, during which these strategic enclaves have undergone a true transformation. We remember the past, but we look to the future—a future that is economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable, innovative, and connected, guided by the Strategic Framework.

Today, Spanish ports handle over 500 million tons of cargo annually, accounting for around 60% of the country's exports and 80% of its imports. Connections with more than 200 ports worldwide have positioned Spain as the European country with the highest maritime connectivity and the sixth globally. Additionally, Spain is one of the European Union countries with the longest coastline, and its port system is located on one of the world's most important maritime routes. Due to its geostrategic location, Spain is a key piece in global logistics chains.

But our ports are much more. They are sources of job creation and wealth, hubs of innovation, and strategic points from the perspective of decarbonization and sustainability commitment. Above all, they are ports by and for people: the people who work in them and contribute to the nation's wealth with their daily labor; the residents of port cities who have transformed their relationship with the port, making it the cultural and social heart; the tourists who visit us by sea and get their first impression of our country... You don't have to live near a port to feel their impact—they touch the lives of each and every one of us because everything we need in our daily lives has come through one of our ports.