- The port sets its sights on serving the business world while maintaining economic and environmental sustainability
- “Together, further”: a ten-year Strategic Plan based on commitment to customers, innovation, connectivity, sustainability and people
- Mar Chao, President of Valenciaport: “The Valenciaport Strategic Plan 2035 is much more than a technical document; it is a collective roadmap. A document born of dialogue, rigorous analysis and the commitment of all the stakeholders that make up Valenciaport”
Valencia, 15 July 2025 – Valenciaport aims to be the key ally for companies and society in a global, interconnected world marked by geopolitical and economic uncertainty. In response to these challenges, the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) has today presented its Strategic Plan at the Clock Building of the Port of Valencia, outlining a vision and series of projects with a clear target year: 2035.
This is a ten-year plan designed to consolidate Valenciaport as a generator of wealth and quality employment, while also acting as a driver of investment and transformation in the port and logistics ecosystem. Its mission is to deliver the best possible service to the business sector.
By 2035, Valenciaport aspires to handle up to 45% of Spain’s loaded container traffic for imports and exports. Rail transport will play a critical role in reaching this goal, with the aim of managing nearly one in every five containers (17%) entering or leaving the ports of Valencia and Sagunto by rail.
However, road transport will continue to play a fundamental role. Valenciaport will remain firmly committed to road haulage as an essential link in the logistics chain.
It is estimated that over the next decade, terminals operated by the PAV will generate around 80,000 jobs (up from 50,000 at present), and will mobilise €40 million through various digitalisation projects to position the port at the forefront of global logistics. All of this aligns with the Strategic Framework of the Spanish Port System and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Plan sets out a series of management indicators to ensure economic sustainability through financial discipline and expenditure control, enabling growth that responds to demand and the needs of Spain’s export sector.
As highlighted by Mar Chao, President of the Port Authority of Valencia, “The Valenciaport Strategic Plan 2035 is much more than a technical document; it is a collective roadmap. A plan born from dialogue, rigorous analysis and the shared commitment of all stakeholders in Valenciaport. It has been developed with the active involvement of the Port Community, employees, businesses, public bodies and social representatives. Its goal is to consolidate Valenciaport as a leading, sustainable, innovative port at the service of the business fabric, citizens and the environment.”
“We want to be the driving force behind a solid and responsible economy,” Chao added. “We aim to grow with solvency and leadership in today’s global economy — an economy in which we are naturally embedded as a key reference port. This strategic port model will not only boost competitiveness; it will also create social value and environmental respect. Ultimately, we seek both economic and environmental sustainability to ensure effective service to businesses and people.”
Objectives and Projects of the Strategic Plan
One of the Plan’s key objectives is to optimise port and logistics infrastructure to meet the evolving demands of global trade. To that end, it will promote flagship projects such as the new North Terminal —a benchmark in sustainability and technology—, improved rail access to the ports of Valencia and Sagunto, and the full development of strategic logistics zones such as the ZAL and Fuente de San Luis. This comprehensive enhancement of connectivity —both rail and road— will enable faster, more efficient services while supporting the decarbonisation of transport.
Decarbonisation, resilience and the fight against climate change are central pillars of the Plan. Valenciaport is committed to its Net Zero Emissions Plan, through the adoption of renewable energy, shore power supply (OPS), alternative fuels, and carbon offsetting tools. It will also promote the development of green corridors, climate adaptation of the port environment, and projects linked to the Hydrogen Valley in Sagunto. The ultimate goal is to establish a green, competitive port model aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The Plan also recognises the vital role of human capital and innovation in shaping Valenciaport’s future. It encourages an open innovation ecosystem, the development of a digital twin of the port, the full digitalisation of operations, and the technological transformation of management systems. In parallel, it seeks to improve port-city integration in Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia, foster citizen-facing spaces, and promote inclusive employment, equality and dual training programmes.
To meet these objectives, the document —presented today first to PAV staff and later to social representatives and the Port Community, who actively contributed to its creation— sets out 20 strategic projects and over 150 concrete initiatives.
These projects are structured around five strategic pillars. The first includes actions deemed to energise the system (infrastructure optimisation, synergies with key clients, sustainable passenger offerings, and targeted measures in Sagunto and Gandia).
The second focuses on environmental actions, including the Net Zero Emissions Plan and risk management, resilience, and climate adaptation. The third addresses Valenciaport’s innovation and digital leadership; the fourth, the port’s role in generating quality and fostering city-port relations; and the fifth, the port’s aim to be a model of good governance and economic self-sufficiency — key to serving the public interest.
A Participatory and Inclusive Plan
The Plan was led and drafted by Dutch consultancy MBTS and the Valenciaport Foundation. It was developed with the collaboration of the Port Community and the main socioeconomic stakeholders involved in the logistics and port activity of Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia — across the Valencian Community and its broader hinterland.
From the outset, the intention was to create a shared document — not just a technical one — that responds to the real needs of the logistics and port environment. More than 200 stakeholders (including companies, institutions, logistics operators, public administrations and associations) actively participated in the design process, contributing strategic and operational insights.
The Plan’s development involved a thorough analysis of the international context, maritime trade trends, and major challenges facing the global port system, such as digitalisation, energy transition and logistics chain congestion. This diagnosis was cross-referenced with economic, environmental, technological and social data at national and European level. Benchmark models from leading ports were also studied to identify best practices adaptable to the Valencian context. This work served as the foundation for defining the Plan’s five strategic pillars and 20 transformative projects. Throughout the drafting process, over 60 technical meetings, sectoral workshops and in-depth interviews were held — both internally and externally. These included sessions with technical and executive PAV staff, working groups with representatives of road and rail transport, public bodies, trade unions, universities and businesses. Specific meetings were also held with local authorities and social representatives from Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia to ensure strong city-port links. This progressive validation process has given the Plan a clear, measurable and realistic structure, with monitoring indicators and public commitments to continuous improvement, reinforcing Valenciaport’s role as a driver of transformation in its environment.