The Port of Tarragona consolidates its leadership in the agri-food sector at the Inter-Pyrenees Grain Exchange in Mollerussa

The Tarragona infrastructure handles an average of 5 million tons annually of this type of merchandise

Last Friday the Port of Tarragona was at the Inter-Pyrenees Grain Exchange in Mollerussa, a reference meeting point for the sector held during the Sant Josep Agricultural Fair, a centennial event held over a whole weekend. The Exchange brings together representatives of importers, producers, co-operatives, transport agencies, marketing centres, brokers and users from different parts of Spain and countries including France and Russia.

It is an event with a long tradition (this year is its seventeenth edition) in which the latest trends and innovations are presented and participants take advantage to make commercial contacts and exchange information and experiences. Every year, an interesting programme of technical workshops is organised in parallel to the agricultural and stockbreeding fair.

The objectives of the Port of Tarragona in attending this event are to increase its market share in agri-food products among the Spanish and Mediterranean ports, to consolidate its leadership in this sector, to attract new bulk products and traffic types and to consolidate the export of live animals.

5 million tons a year

The Port of Tarragona is the undisputed leader in handling agri-food products, both in Spain and the Mediterranean, contributing to this economic activity thanks to its specialised services and infrastructure to facilitate imports.

Agri-foods are one of the most important cargos handled by the Port of Tarragona, due to their volume –an average of 5 million tons annually– and the major facilities and economic repercussion in the region.

Imports to supply a large hinterland

The Port of Tarragona receives agri-food products from the principal producing countries, including the Ukraine, Romania, Argentina and the United States. The products are distributed over an extensive hinterland that includes the whole of Catalonia, Aragon, a large part of Navarre and eastern Castile, where 40% of the total Spanish production of animal feed is manufactured.

The products are imported through the Port of Tarragona and from there are transported to the areas where the animal feed is manufactured, including factories in Lleida, Zaragoza, Girona and, to a lesser extent, in Soria and Huesca.

The animal feed manufacturers are located in the hinterland of the Port of Tarragona, specifically in the Ebro Valley and Lleida. Annually, the Port of Tarragona handles more than 60% of the raw materials for manufacturing feed for the cattle of Catalonia. It is the most important port in Spain for cereals and flours and animal feed and forage.

The Port of Tarragona is one of two Spanish Mediterranean ports authorised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing, Food and the Environment for the loading and transportation of live cattle. Since this traffic began in 2012, it has handled more than 1,114,670 head of cattle, 70% of the total number in Catalonia.