The Port of Barcelona and Shanghai seal a 'sister port' agreement to lead the sustainable logistics corridor

Asia-Europe Strategic Alliance

The Port of Barcelona, ​​the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission (SMTC) and Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) have signed a strategic agreement to consolidate the maritime route between Asia and the Mediterranean, strengthening cooperation in digitalization, sustainability and security.

---

El Port de Barcelona has strengthened its alliance with the port of Shanghái through the signing of a new strategic cooperation agreement. This pact, signed on June 9, 2026, consolidates the position of the Catalan infrastructure as a Euro-Mediterranean logistics hub of reference and strengthens trade ties with one of the world's leading economic and port centers.

The formalization of the agreement took place during a visit by an institutional and business delegation from Shanghái a BarcelonaThe firm included the participation of José Alberto Carbonell, Chairman of the Port de Barcelona; Xiao Hui, general director of the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission (SMTC), and Yang ZhiYong, VP Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG). The event was also attended by Jaume Duch, councilor of Unió Europea i Acció Exterior de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

Formalization of a strategic alliance

With this new framework for collaboration, both infrastructures officially establish a relationship of “sister ports”The objective is to strengthen cooperation in areas of high strategic value for 21st-century foreign trade, such as digitalization and security, of port operations, the development of green ports and the promotion of alternative fuels. Furthermore, the aim is to optimize intermodality and promote the creation of sustainable maritime corridors between the Far East and the Mediterranean.

The relationship between Port de Barcelona and the Port of Shanghái This has intensified considerably in recent years. This agreement is the culmination of a series of previous approaches, including an initial pact signed at the end of July 2025 and a subsequent technical visit in September of that same year by a Chinese delegation headed by Wang Haijian, vice president and chief operating officer of SIPG.

Key Areas of the Barcelona-Shanghai Agreement

Scope of Cooperation	Strategic objective
Digitization and Security	Optimize traceability and protection of supply chains.
Green Ports and Sustainability	Promote the use of alternative fuels and reduce the carbon footprint.
Intermodality	Improve the connection of maritime transport with rail and road.
Sustainable Maritime Corridors	Establish efficient and environmentally friendly routes between Asia and the Mediterranean.

The Green and Digital Corridor as the axis of collaboration

One of the pillars of the agreement is the development of Green Shipping and Digital Corridor (Green and Digital Maritime Corridor) between both ports. The previous working meetings, which included a visit to the facilities of Ebro-Chery in the Zona FrancaThey focused on the growth of trade and logistics exchanges between China y EuropaOn this latest visit, the Chinese delegation toured the vehicle terminal of Autoterminal, continuing the work to implement said corridor.

With the signing of this agreement, the Port de Barcelona not only does it strengthen its role as a gateway to the south of Europa for Asian trade, but it also positions itself at the forefront of the sustainability and technological innovation in the global logistics and port sector.

Key points and frequently asked questions about the Barcelona-Shanghai alliance

How does this agreement affect Spanish exporting and importing companies?

For Spanish companies, this agreement represents a potential improvement in the efficiency, safety and sustainability of their supply chains with ChinaThe creation of a green and digital corridor can translate into more predictable transit times, lower costs associated with bureaucracy thanks to digitalization, and added value in terms of ESG (environmental, social, and governance criteria) for its operations.

What does it mean for Barcelona to consolidate itself as a 'Euro-Mediterranean hub'?

It means that the Port de Barcelona It is reinforced as a key point for the distribution of goods from Asia to the rest of the world. Europa and the north of ÁfricaIts intermodal capacity (connection with rail and road networks) makes it a strategic alternative to the northern ports of Europa, offering more direct and potentially faster routes to the southern market of the continent.

What is a 'Green and Digital Maritime Corridor'?

It is a maritime trade route that integrates two key components. The component 'Green' It focuses on reducing environmental impact through the use of ships powered by alternative fuels (such as LNG or green methanol) and the optimization of port operations to minimize emissions. The component 'Digital' It involves the use of technologies such as blockchain, IoT, and shared data platforms to improve traceability, security, and efficiency of the entire logistics operation.