Valenciaport, despite facing a challenging year, managed to outperform the Spanish Port System, closing 2023 with a decrease in traffic of 2.81%. The Statistical Bulletin of the Port Authority of València (PAV) for 2023 reported a total volume of 76,746,424 tonnes of goods, reflecting a decline that remained below the Spanish ports’ average of -3.3%.
Mar Chao, the president of Valenciaport, presented these figures during the first meeting of the year with the PAV Board of Directors, held in the iconic Clock Building. Chao attributed the decline to the global economic crisis resulting from conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine, coupled with uncertainty from the Red Sea conflict, leading to a contraction in international trade.
Chao highlighted a positive trend in container traffic during the last quarter of 2023, signaling a potential recovery. The surge, particularly in October, was attributed to transit traffic driven by the Red Sea conflict crisis. December witnessed a remarkable growth of 13.13% in container traffic compared to the same period in 2022.
Despite the challenging year, Valenciaport demonstrated resilience in the short term, with growth figures of 8.6% in December, 19.31% in November, and 6.99% in October, providing a boost to the overall annual performance.
In terms of specific numbers, goods vehicle traffic for the year amounted to 643,000 vehicles, marking a 6.6% increase from the previous year. Passenger traffic also showed positive results, with the APV experiencing a 13.4% increase, hosting 1.56 million passengers, including a notable 25.4% rise in cruise passengers.
The Board of Directors addressed various procedural matters during the meeting, including the approval of the construction project for the interior railway network of the Port of Sagunto. Acciona Construcción, S.A. secured the contract for this project, valued at 15,537,999.16 (VAT included), with an execution period of eleven months.
Other key decisions included the modification of terms and conditions for the operation of nautical-sports facilities in the northern area of the Port of València, the rejection of appeals for reconsideration from the workers of the Valencia 2007 Consortium in liquidation, and the renewal of the collaboration agreement with UNCTAD for the TrainForTrade Port Training Programme, extending the partnership until 31 December 2027.
Additionally, the Council initiated procedures for granting a surface right on the former base of the Alinghi America’s Cup team, aligning with the PAV’s commitment to fostering dynamic projects within the dock.
