Werbung Der Hafen von Bilbao blickt auf ein bedeutendes Jahr zurück Erneuerbare & Ökologie Offshore Produkte Technik Windparks Wirtschaft 27. Februar 2026 Hinweis: Die Bildrechte zu den Beitragsfotos finden Sie am Ende des Artikels Der Hafen von Bilbao blickt auf ein Jahr zurück, das von bedeutenden Fortschritten in den Bereichen Vernetzung, Energiewende, Infrastruktur und Digitalisierung geprägt war. (WK-intern) – Der Rückgang des Verkehrsaufkommens, hauptsächlich bedingt durch die technische Stilllegung der Petronor-Raffinerie, hat die Fortschritte und Investitionen in diesem Jahr nicht beeinträchtigt. Die Hafenbehörde bezeichnete es als entscheidend für die Verbesserung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit des Hafens und die Erschließung neuer Märkte. Zu den Höhepunkten zählen das Wachstum des Handels mit den USA, Brasilien, Senegal, den Niederlanden und China sowie die Chancen, die sich durch neue Schifffahrtsrouten nach Kanada und an die Westküste Südamerikas ergeben. Die Passagierzahlen bei Kreuzfahrtschiffen und Fähren verzeichneten im vierten Jahr in Folge Rekordwerte. Bilbao ist weiterhin führend im spanischen Hafenverkehr: 26 % der Container werden per Bahn transportiert. Die Hafenbehörde verfügt über eine solide Finanzlage, die es ihr ermöglicht, die Hafengebühren einzufrieren und die Investitionen von 35,7 Millionen Euro im Jahr 2025 auf 110,9 Millionen Euro im Jahr 2026 zu erhöhen. Die erste Phase der Elektrifizierung der Docks wird im zweiten Quartal dieses Jahres mit zwei RoRo-Anschlüssen in Betrieb genommen. Der Hafen von Bilbao schloss das Geschäftsjahr 2025 mit einem Umschlag von gut 32 Millionen Tonnen ab, 2,3 Millionen Tonnen (6,8 %) weniger als im Vorjahr. Dieser Rückgang ist teilweise auf die technische Stilllegung der Petronor-Anlage zwischen Mai und Juli zurückzuführen. Gleichzeitig ist jedoch anzumerken, dass der Umschlag im zweiten Halbjahr gegenüber dem Vorjahr um 1,5 % gestiegen ist. Die Hafenbehörde ist der Ansicht, dass die Verkehrszahlen die Bedeutung des Jahres für die Verbesserung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit des wichtigsten Hafens im Atlantischen Bogen nicht schmälern. Fortschritte wurden bei Schlüsselprojekten in Bereichen wie Konnektivität, Dekarbonisierung, Infrastruktur und Digitalisierung erzielt, die die unmittelbare Zukunft des Hafens prägen werden. Erste Ergebnisse dieser Projekte werden sich 2026 zeigen. Das Verkehrsaufkommen wurde im Laufe des Jahres zum einen durch einen zweimonatigen planmäßigen technischen Stillstand der Petronor-Raffinerie beeinträchtigt. Ohne diesen Stillstand, der der Verbesserung der Sicherheit und der Integration von Innovationen zur Effizienzsteigerung und Emissionsreduzierung diente, wäre das Verkehrsaufkommen um 0,5 % gesunken, was dem Rückgang von 0,2 % im staatlichen Hafensystem entsprochen hätte. Dieser Trend war in fast allen acht großen Häfen noch deutlicher ausgeprägt, z. B. in Algeciras (-3,3 %), Barcelona (-0,4 %) und Valencia (-0,7 %). Eine Ausnahme bildet Las Palmas, das aufgrund seiner geografischen Lage von den Auswirkungen des Emissionshandelssystems (ETS) profitierte. Geopolitische Spannungen hatten auch erhebliche Auswirkungen auf den Außenhandel. Die Exporte sanken um 13 % und die Importe um fast 4 %, insbesondere bei flüssigen Massengütern und Containerexporte. Bereinigt um die Folgen des technischen Stillstands bei Petronor und des Streiks gingen die Exporte um 8,3 % zurück, während die Importe um 3,2 % stiegen. Absolut betrachtet zeigen die Zahlen einen deutlichen Rückgang bei drei Kohlenwasserstoffen: Rohöl (minus 13 % bzw. 1,3 Millionen Tonnen weniger Importe), Gasöl (557.150 Tonnen weniger als 2024) und Benzin (minus 121.208 Tonnen). Das größte Mengenwachstum verzeichneten die Erdgasimporte mit 3,6 Millionen Tonnen, ein Plus von 5 % bzw. 167.064 Tonnen, gefolgt von Futtermitteln, insbesondere Importen (+99.308 Tonnen), nichtmetallischen Mineralien (+61.770 Tonnen), Schrott (+40.189 Tonnen), Baustoffen (+26.120 Tonnen) und Konserven (+19.939 Tonnen). The Port of Bilbao closes a year marked by significant progress in connectivity, energy transition, infrastructure and digitalisation The decline in traffic, mainly due to the technical shutdown of the Petronor refinery, has not affected progress and investment in a year described by the Port Authority as key to improving the competitiveness of the port and opening up new markets. Highlights include growth in trade with the United States, Brazil, Senegal, the Netherlands and China, and the opportunities presented by new shipping routes to Canada and the west coast of South America. Record figures for the number of passengers arriving and departing on both cruise ships and ferries for the fourth consecutive year. Bilbao continues leading the way in the use of rail in the Spanish port system, with 26% of containers arriving or departing by train. The Port Authority maintains a healthy financial position, enabling it to freeze port fees and increase investment from 35.7 million euros in 2025 to 110.9 million euros in 2026. The first phase of the electrification of the docks will come into operation in the second quarter of this year, with two connection points for roll-on/roll-off traffic. The Port of Bilbao closed the 2025 financial year with a throughput of just over 32 million tonnes, down 2.3 million (6.8%) on the previous year’s figures and attributable to some extent to the technical shutdown of the Petronor plant between May and July. At the same time, however, it is worth noting that throughput in the second half of the year was up 1.5% compared to the previous year. The Port Authority considers that the traffic figures do not detract from a key year for improving the competitiveness of the main port in the Atlantic Arc, with progress made on key projects in areas such as connectivity, decarbonisation, infrastructure and digitalisation that will shape the immediate future of the Port. The first results of these projects will be seen in 2026. In terms of traffic, the year was affected, on the one hand, by a two-month scheduled technical shutdown at the Petronor refinery. Without this shutdown, the purpose of which was to improve safety and incorporate innovations to improve efficiency and reduce emission levels, traffic would have fallen by 0.5%, in line with the 0.2% decline in the state port system. This trend was even more pronounced in practically all eight major ports, e.g. Algeciras -3.3%, Barcelona -0.4%, Valencia -0.7%, with the exception of Las Palmas, which, due to its geographical location, has benefitted from the consequences of the application of the Emissions Trading System (ETS). Geopolitical tensions have also had a significant impact on foreign trade, causing exports to fall by 13% and imports by nearly 4%, particularly in the case of liquid bulk imports/exports and container exports. Leaving aside the effect of the technical shutdown at Petronor and the strike, exports fell by 8.3%, while imports increased by 3.2%. In absolute terms, figures show a marked decline in three hydrocarbons: crude oil, down 13% or 1.3 million tonnes less imported; gasoil (557,150 tonnes less than in 2024); and petrol (down 121,208 tonnes). The greatest growth by volume was seen in natural gas imports, which stood at 3.6 million tonnes, up 5% or 167,064 tonnes, followed by feed and fodder, especially imports (+99,308 tonnes), non-metallic minerals (+61,770), scrap iron (+40,189), building materials (+26,120) and preserves (+19,939). In terms of exports, the United Kingdom continues to lead the ranking, with the Port of Bilbao remaining the main entry and exit point for Spanish traffic with this country, while the United States ranks first in terms of imports. In fact, the market with the highest growth is the United States (up 1.3 million tonnes, reaching nearly 4.7 million), with a total increase in goods of 40% but with a significant increase in imports (62%), mainly due to an 85% increase in liquid bulk and, more specifically, a 228% increase in gas imports. The United States has thus become the leading market of origin for natural gas, rising from 15% of total gas traffic in 2024 to 49% in 2025 and overtaking Russia, whose share stands at 48% compared to 77% in 2024. However, exports to the United States are down 38%, with a notable decline in chemical products (43%) and machine tools (16%). Other countries showing a positive growth trend include Brazil, Senegal, the Netherlands, China, Uruguay, Gabon and Indonesia. These figures once again confirm that Bilbao is a port for both short and deep sea shipping. In fact, new and important opportunities are opening up in the American market with the launch in December of two direct container services by the shipping company MSC: one to Canada and the other to the west coast of South America, calling at ports in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Panama, Peru and Chile. In January alone, traffic with these two areas increased by nearly 120,000 tonnes compared to January last year. Added to this are new connections with Europe, such as that of the shipping company Finnlines, a subsidiary of the Grimaldi Group, which has added a stopover in the Polish port of Gdynia, and WEC Lines, which has updated its containerised freight service with the United Kingdom and Ireland with the addition of a second vessel, allowing for new stopovers and a faster route. All of this opens up new possibilities for attracting freight that is currently transported by road. In terms of connectivity, the Bilbao Port Authority welcomes the start of works on the Southern Rail Bypass, a long-awaited and key project for the logistics and port community in Bilbao, which is committed to rail transport. In 2025, a total of 3,800 trains entered and left the port, an average figure of almost 10.5 trains per day. The share of containers transported by rail remains at 26%, and Bilbao continues to be the leader in this respect in the port system. In short, these initiatives and results, combined with the commitment of the Port of Bilbao to intermodal transport and existing short-distance lines, contribute to improving the competitiveness of the port, and make it a key player in the decarbonisation of transport within the logistics chain. Vessels and passengers The number of vessels passing through the port in 2025 stood at 2,611, an average of seven vessels per day. In terms of passenger traffic, the Port of Bilbao set a new record for the fourth consecutive year, with 337,562 passengers arriving or departing, a 20% increase on the previous year. Cruise passengers accounted for 54% of this figure, while 46% were passengers on ferries connecting with the United Kingdom and Ireland. The number of cruise ships and ferries calling at the port stood at 95 and 162, respectively. Sound economic and financial situation In 2025, turnover stood at 77 million euros, up 0.37% from 76.7 million in 2024. Debt with the European Investment Bank amounted to 30.9 million, and cash balances totalled 73.8 million euros. EBITDA amounted to 35.2 million euros. In line with the above, the organisation’s economic and financial situation will enable it to continue making significant investments in key areas such as energy transition, basic infrastructure, intermodality, digitalisation, innovation and port-town relations. To this end, a green loan of up to 80 million euros has been secured from the European Investment Bank – Climate Bank, and 34 million euros in grants have been approved in competitive programmes by the European Commission to promote electrification and the creation of the port’s energy model, decarbonisation and innovation. These ongoing projects provide an excellent starting point for taking a qualitative step forward and placing ourselves at the forefront of the first ‘Comprehensive Strategic Plan for European Ports’, to be published shortly by the European Commission. Likewise, to support business competitiveness, the Bilbao Port Authority will continue not to increase the prices charged to its customers. Consequently, and as has been the case since 2014, port fees will remain unchanged despite the cumulative general inflation over this period. The Port Authority also offers a 50% tax discount to pioneering vessels powered by alternative fuels (LNG and hybrid vessels) and those using low emission technology when berthed, as part of the drive towards decarbonisation. Increase in the investment budget Total investment in 2025 amounted to 35.7 million euros. Stand-out infrastructure projects include: Second stage of the central breakwater: 19.4 million euros 60 MW connection to OPS switching station: .3.3 million euros Second stage of the vacuum sewer system: 1.6 million euros OPS1 A5 Dock energy efficiency: 1.1 million euros The investment planned for 2026 will increase significantly to 110.9 million euros, as per the current Investment Plan. This will primarily be allocated as follows: Second stage of the central breakwater: 27.6 million euros 60 MW connection to OPS switching station: 4.6 million euros OPS1 A5 Dock energy efficiency: 2.7 million euros OPS2 at A1, A2, A6, AZ3 and cruise ship docks: 27.5 million euros PV arrays on sea walls and at car parks: 8.5 million euros PV arrays on roof structures: 2.9 million euros Powertrack for the OPS2 project: 4 million euros Rerouting of the Petronor pipeline rack at the Punta Lucero breakwater rock: 7.5 million euros Upgrade of the Customs facilities: 5 million euros Service building for employees working in connection with Port Authority vessels: 1.2 million euros Current situation and developments on the works on the central breakwater Construction work on the second stage of the central breakwater began in the last quarter of 2024 and is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2027. The budget for the project is around 55 million euros. The project consists of the creation of 1,011 metres of new berthing space distributed across two new docks (A3 and A4), allowing for the creation of a new port area of around 310,000 m2. This will require the construction and anchoring of 15 reinforced concrete caissons, forming a vertical wall that will serve as the new berthing line and contain the infill for the future esplanade. At this moment in time, the placement of the rockfill for the formation of the berm of all the caissons has been completed, as has the gravel levelling of the bench of 13 caissons, and the 11 caissons of the A3 Dock have already been constructed and anchored. Work on the construction of the caissons is being conducted around the clock, with over 200 people employed on the project. The caissons are scheduled to be completed in April. Rerouting of the Petronor pipeline rack Among the most significant works scheduled to begin in 2026 is the rerouting of the Petronor pipeline rack at the site of the Punta Lucero breakwater rock, with an investment of 7.5 million euros. The planned works consist of an underground section as a solution for the intersection of the pipelines and the road, thereby minimising the impact of the oil pipeline on the road, and an overhead section, in which a rack or metal structure is built to support the pipelines in that section. In addition, connections between the new route and the existing pipelines are included. New Customs facilities Another of the actions planned for this year is the comprehensive upgrade of the Customs facilities, which, with an estimated budget of 5 million euros, is intended to modernise the current facilities to meet new challenges and needs. The new premises will be on a plot of land near the Ugaldebieta control gate and the Port Authority offices, and will consist of a building for the Integrated Customs Inspection Centre (CIRA), a scanner, an office building, a car park and traffic areas, as well as landscaping of the surrounding area. Roll-out of the Energy Transition Plan The Port of Bilbao continues to roll out its Energy Transition Plan with the coordinated deployment of dock electrification, renewable energy production, energy storage, digitalisation and energy self-sufficiency, and a governance model geared towards strengthening the port’s energy independence. With regard to dock electrification (BilbOPS) and an integrated PV solar OPS (Onshore Power Supply), work is currently underway on the OPS1 energy efficiency project at Dock A5, which, with an investment of 4.5 million euros, is scheduled to come into operation in the second quarter of this year, with two connection points for ro-ro traffic at Docks A5 and A6. The OPS2 works at the A1, A2, A6, AZ3 and cruise ship docks have recently been awarded for 50.1 million euros, and are scheduled for completion in 2027. At the same time, the Port Authority is promoting renewable energy production linked to the deployment of an onshore power supply. In this sense, a contract worth 11.49 million euros has been awarded to set up an array of PV solar panels on sea walls and at car parks, with an 18-month deadline. Similarly, work on installing PV panels on roof structures is planned for 2026, with a budget of 2.9 million euros. Finally, work has recently begun on laying a 7.3 kilometre long powertrack for the OPS2 project, to supply power to the A1, A2, A5 and A6 docks and the cruise terminals (Getxo 1, 2 and 3). This infrastructure represents an investment of 4.5 million euros. Upgrading technology infrastructure In November, the Bilbao Port Authority presented its Digital Transformation Plan, to which more than 18 million euros will be assigned up to 2030. The plan provides for a thorough overhaul and modernisation of the port’s technology infrastructure, enhancing its security, boosting operational efficiency and improving the competitiveness of the logistics ecosystem. The plan is structured around 17 strategic projects, out of a total of 25, with key projects in six areas: infrastructure and connectivity, automation and artificial intelligence, security, digital workplaces, information systems, and logistics and transport. All of this will contribute to making Bilbao a more efficient, secure and sustainable port. PR: Port of Bilbao PB: Der Hafen von Bilbao blickt auf ein bedeutendes Jahr zurück Weitere Beiträge:Netzkonfigurationsstudien für das estnisch-lettische Offshore-Windparkprojekt ELWINDWeltneuheit: Effizienzsteigerung bei Wärmeprozessen für die Halbleiterproduktion durch Heraeus black...juwi erschließt mit neuen Projekten weitere Windmärkte in Deutschland
