Spain has 167 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database and serves as a major maritime gateway between Europe, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, North Africa and global liner networks.
Explore Spain port codes, major cargo gateways, regional clusters and indicative shipping routes for 2026 planning.
Spain combines large container gateways, energy and bulk terminals, ferry ports and island logistics hubs. The database count below is indexed coverage, while throughput figures use national or port-authority reporting and therefore represent a different measurement scope.
How many seaports does Spain have?
Spain has 167 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed coverage figure, not a legal count of every port facility or berth.
Which are Spain’s busiest container gateways?
Valencia (ESVLC), Algeciras (ESALG) and Barcelona (ESBAR) are among Spain’s leading container gateways, connecting Iberian importers and exporters with Mediterranean, Atlantic and intercontinental services.
Which regions handle the main cargo flows?
The Mediterranean corridor led by Valencia and Barcelona, the Strait of Gibraltar gateway centred on Algeciras, and the northern Atlantic and Cantabrian gateways including Bilbao and Vigo form Spain’s principal maritime cargo areas.
The table provides an indicative 2025 comparison of leading Spanish container gateways. World rank and port-level TEU figures should be checked against the latest annual port-authority and industry league-table releases before contractual use.
Indicative 2025 container throughput comparison
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Valencia | ESVLC | 5.66 | +3.3% | Eastern Mediterranean |
| — | Algeciras | ESALG | 5.30 | +11.8% | Strait of Gibraltar |
| — | Barcelona | ESBAR | 4.00 | +3.1% | Catalonia and Western Mediterranean |
| — | Las Palmas | ESLPA | 1.20 | +5.0% | Canary Islands and Atlantic |
| — | Bilbao | ESBIL | 0.66 | +4.8% | Bay of Biscay |
| — | Vigo | ESVIG | 0.25 | +2.4% | Galicia and Atlantic |
| — | Malaga | ESMAL | 0.13 | +6.1% | Southern Mediterranean |
| — | Gijon | ESGIJ | 0.12 | +1.7% | Asturias and Cantabrian coast |
The eastern coast supports containerized consumer goods, automotive cargo, agricultural exports, project cargo and Mediterranean feeder connections.
Representative ports in the eastern Mediterranean cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valencia | ESVLC | Valencia | Containers, ro-ro, automobiles and general cargo |
| Barcelona | ESBAR | Barcelona | Containers, vehicles, project cargo and short-sea shipping |
| Murcia | ESMJV | Murcia | Regional cargo and logistics support |
| Alicante | ESALC | Alicante | General cargo, containers and regional distribution |
| Tarragona | ESTAR | Tarragona | Petrochemicals, liquid bulk, dry bulk and general cargo |
| Castellon | ESCAS | Castellon | Ceramics, liquid bulk, dry bulk and general cargo |
Southern gateways connect Spain with North Africa, the Mediterranean, Atlantic services and major transshipment networks.
Representative ports in the southern and Strait cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeciras | ESALG | Algeciras | Container transshipment, ro-ro, bunkering and general cargo |
| Malaga | ESMAL | Containers, cruise, ro-ro and general cargo | |
| Cadiz | ESCAD | Cadiz | Ro-ro, project cargo, vehicles and general cargo |
| Almeria | ESALM | Almeria | Short-sea shipping, agricultural cargo and ro-ro |
| Ceuta | ESCEU | Ceuta | Ferry, ro-ro and regional supply cargo |
| Huelva | ESHUE | Huelva | Energy, chemicals, bulk and industrial cargo |
Northern ports serve industrial supply chains, automotive production, seafood, forest products, steel and Atlantic short-sea routes.
Representative ports in the northern and Atlantic cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilbao | ESBIL | Bilbao | Containers, steel, energy, ro-ro and industrial cargo |
| Vigo | ESVIG | Vigo | Automobiles, seafood, containers and ro-ro |
| Gijon | ESGIJ | Gijon | Dry bulk, steel, energy and industrial cargo |
| Marin | ESMAR | Marin | Fishery, food products, bulk and general cargo |
| Ferrol | ESFRO | Ferrol | Energy, project cargo and industrial bulk |
Island ports combine local supply-chain functions with transshipment, bunkering, ferry and tourism-related cargo activity.
Representative island ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Palmas | ESLPA | Las Palmas | Containers, bunkering, fishing, ro-ro and Atlantic distribution |
| Tenerife | ESTCI | Tenerife | Containers, ferries, energy and island supply cargo |
| Fuerteventura | ESFTV | Ferry, ro-ro and island supply cargo | |
| Ibiza | ESIBI | Ibiza | Ferry, ro-ro and seasonal island logistics |
| Palma De Mallorca | ESPMI | Palma De Mallorca | Ferry, ro-ro, containers and island distribution |
Spanish maritime locations generally use the ES country prefix in the UN/LOCODE system. A code in the Ecer Freight database should be checked against the shipment route, terminal, city and carrier booking instructions.
A Spanish UN/LOCODE begins with ES and is followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, ESVLC identifies Valencia, ESALG identifies Algeciras and ESBAR identifies Barcelona in the indexed port sample.
A city-level code may cover a port area or logistics location, while carrier systems can separately identify terminals, depots, inland rail points or facilities. The operational terminal name should therefore be confirmed before issuing shipping instructions.
Compare the code with the official UNECE reference and then review the matching location in the Ecer Freight port directory. Port calls, terminal cut-offs and service availability remain subject to carrier confirmation.
Spain’s trade-lane selection depends on cargo origin, final destination, equipment availability, transshipment exposure and the required inland delivery point. Transit times below are indicative and subject to sailing schedules, port calls, customs and congestion.
Containerized machinery, food products, chemicals, automotive cargo and consumer goods move from Spanish gateways to North American markets.
Asia–Spain services support consumer goods, electronics, machinery, textiles and industrial inputs, often with direct or hub-based routings.
Short-sea and deep-sea connections link Spanish exporters with distribution centres and industrial markets in Northern Europe.
Ferry, ro-ro, feeder and container services support regular trade with North Africa, Italy, Turkey and other Mediterranean markets.
The page separates Ecer Freight’s indexed port coverage from public cargo and container statistics. Port rankings and transit times are planning references rather than guaranteed operating commitments.
Spain has 167 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents database coverage and should not be treated as a statutory count of every Spanish maritime facility.
Valencia (ESVLC), Algeciras (ESALG) and Barcelona (ESBAR) are the principal container gateways in the indexed sample. The leading port can vary by measurement basis, such as total cargo tonnes, containers, transshipment or annual ranking.
ES is the country prefix used for Spain in the UN/LOCODE system. The three following characters identify the location, such as ESVLC for Valencia, ESALG for Algeciras and ESBAR for Barcelona.
The eastern Mediterranean corridor, the Strait of Gibraltar, the northern Atlantic and Cantabrian coast, and the Canary Islands are key maritime regions. Valencia, Barcelona, Algeciras, Bilbao, Vigo and Las Palmas serve different cargo and network roles.
The indexed database snapshot is from Nov 2026. The latest complete statistical reference year is 2025, while port authority releases and carrier schedules may be revised or updated at different times.
Yes. A quote normally requires the origin or destination port, cargo description, container type, weight, volume, Incoterm, sailing window and final delivery location. FCL and LCL rates can vary with equipment, season, surcharges and available services.
No. A UN/LOCODE identifies a location but does not replace the carrier booking instruction, terminal name, vessel schedule, customs details or verified inland delivery address. Operational details should be confirmed before cargo dispatch.
This Spain port guide combines the Ecer Freight database snapshot reviewed in Nov 2026 with publicly available Spanish port-system and port-authority information. Indexed coverage is refreshed as the directory changes, while cargo statistics, rankings, schedules and transit times are reviewed against available annual or operational releases and may be updated quarterly.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Spain: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact
