Image: Andrey Metelev
On April 28, 2025, a widespread power outage struck Spain and Portugal, causing significant disruptions across various sectors, including maritime and air cargo operations. The blackout, which affected millions of people and businesses, has led to cascading effects on global supply chains, highlighting the vulnerabilities of modern logistics networks.
Port Operations
The power outage has significantly impacted major ports in Spain and Portugal, including Algeciras, Valencia, and Barcelona. These ports experienced substantial slowdowns as customs systems, container handling equipment, and tracking systems went offline. The operational downtime has led to delays in vessel turnaround times, with ships waiting longer to load and unload cargo.
Fuel shortages, resulting from refinery shutdowns, have exacerbated the situation. Trucking networks, crucial for moving cargo to and from ports, have been hampered by the lack of fuel. This has created bottlenecks in container delivery and export flows, as trucks struggle to keep up with the demand.
The bunker fuel supply for ships has also been reduced due to refinery stoppages. Some vessels have had to reroute for refueling, increasing voyage costs and contributing to congestion in the Mediterranean. The shutdown of chemical and automotive manufacturing plants has further delayed the export of finished goods and components, disrupting supply chains that rely on timely port operations.
Air Cargo Deliveries
Air cargo operations have been severely affected by the power outage, with major airports such as Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona experiencing ground stops, flight cancellations, and severe delays. As of April 28, 2025, 96 outbound flights from Portuguese airports and 45 from Spanish airports were canceled, with Lisbon and Madrid being the hardest hit.
Air traffic control towers have been operating on backup generators with restricted capacity, reducing air traffic by up to 50–60% in some areas. This has significantly limited the throughput of air cargo, especially for time-sensitive shipments. Cargo handling operations at airports have also been affected by the loss of power to essential systems, causing delays in unloading, customs clearance, and onward delivery of airfreight.
Perishable goods and urgent shipments are at heightened risk of spoilage or missed delivery windows due to the cascading delays. The disruption has highlighted the fragility of air cargo networks in the face of unexpected power outages.
Container Deliveries
The combined effect of port slowdowns, fuel shortages, and trucking disruptions has led to delays in both import and export container flows. Customs and tracking system outages have made it difficult to process and locate containers efficiently. Shipping lines are already adjusting routes and schedules to avoid congested Spanish ports, with the risk that Mediterranean congestion could worsen if the outage persists.
The halt in automotive and food processing plants has increased the risk of missed export deadlines, particularly for perishables and just-in-time manufacturing components. The ripple effects of the power outage are expected to persist for several days, even as restoration efforts continue.
Summary Table: Logistics Sector Impacts
| Sector | Impact |
|---|---|
| Port Operations | Slowdowns, equipment downtime, customs/tracking outages, fuel shortages, vessel rerouting |
| Air Cargo | Flight cancellations, ground stops, capacity reductions, handling delays |
| Container Deliveries | Trucking/fuel disruptions, customs delays, missed export/import windows |
The power outage has severely disrupted port operations, air cargo, and container deliveries in Spain and Portugal, causing delays, congestion, and global supply chain ripple effects. Restoration is ongoing, but the knock-on impacts are expected to persist for several days.
