Logistics, a key factor for Spanish SMEs to overcome the challenge of internationalization, according to UNO

 

The debate on the internationalization of Spain's production sector was a central theme of Privel 2025, the first trade fair focused on the private label industry, organized by Alimarket and Ifema Madrid . At the opening of the logistics section, Francisco Aranda , president of the employers' association UNO , emphasized that exporting remains the main challenge facing Spanish businesses.

 

Aranda pointed out that, currently, “only 9% of Spanish companies sell abroad, a figure that could improve if small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rely on logistics operators .” According to the business representative, logistics is the tool that transforms the potential of SMEs into export reality because it supports them throughout the entire process.

 

Overcoming Barriers and Adding Value

 

The president of UNO pointed out that Spain has considerable room for growth in foreign markets, despite the fact that the Internationalization Strength Index (ISI) gives it a score of seven out of ten. Complex customs and para-customs procedures should no longer be seen as an insurmountable obstacle for SMEs, since, in Aranda's words, "operators offer all their knowledge and experience to overcome them successfully and with all the necessary guarantees . "

 

The export process goes beyond simply shipping a product. It involves building a competitive supply chain and effectively managing aspects such as tariffs , certificates of origin , sanitary regulations , and documentation requirements . According to Aranda, the logistics sector has the necessary resources to handle this, “avoiding penalties, delays, or border blockages . ”

 

In Aranda's words, "only 9% of Spanish companies sell outside our borders, a figure that can improve if small and medium-sized companies rely on logistics operators." 

 

This support role in processes subject to constant change is what has transformed the perception of the sector. Aranda explained that this is one reason why logistics has ceased to be a commodity and has become a competitive advantage that adds value and helps overcome barriers to international trade.

 

“Logistics, with its knowledge of international trade, is today a major driver of exports from the productive sector and allows us to compete successfully in an increasingly demanding global environment ,” he emphasized.

 

Strengths of the Spanish Logistics Sector

 

The positive evolution of the Spanish logistics sector is evident. It is an increasingly strong, innovative, and competitive sector that contributes more than 7% of GDP and generates employment for 1,2 million people , supported by a world-class infrastructure network.

 

Digitalization and the incorporation of new technologies have been crucial, allowing the sector to successfully manage a 240% increase in e-commerce shipments in just five years (going from 538 million in 2019 to more than 1.300 billion in 2024).

 

This technological transformation has also redefined the supply chain model, moving from the "just in time" concept to "just in case" , and from multimodality to synchromodality , making logistics synonymous with flexibility and innovation.

 

In conclusion, the president of UNO stressed that cooperation between industry, distribution and logistics operators is "key to generating a more competitive business fabric" , and reiterated that logistics is an enabler of an economic model that is more open to the outside world.