The Port of Tarragona attains the figure of 1 million head of livestock exported

Since 2012, the year in which this service began, this traffic has registered an exponential growth

The Port of Tarragona has attained a million head of livestock exported since this traffic was started five years ago. In July 2012, the Port infrastructure launched a new export traffic in live animals with the aim of revitalising the economy of its area of influence. Since the very first operation, growth has been exponential.

At the same time, this type of traffic gives the Port of Tarragona a distinction of high quality since not all ports are suitable for working with this type of goods. In this way, the Port of Tarragona is the second port in Spain and the third in Europe in providing this service. The Port of Tarragona’s livestock terminal is equipped with customs services, veterinarians, customs stevedores and stevedores that are professionally prepared to receive this traffic, and is a good example of the goods diversification that the Port is promoting in order to become more competitive.

Exporting to countries in North Africa

The main recipient of the sheep and cattle exported via the Port of Tarragona is Libya, followed by Egypt, the Lebanon, Algeria, and lastly, Turkey, a country that has opened up its market since 2017. The live animals come from farms in Catalonia, Aragon, the central Madrid area and also from the South of France and Belgium.

With regard to particularly significant operations, June 13th saw the arrival of the ‘Victory’, the biggest livestock vessel that has carried out operations in the Port of Tarragona so far. In total, 25,460 head of livestock were loaded on the 'Victory' bound for Libya. The shipping agent company was Euromarco and the stevedoring company was Euroports Iberica TPS.