The Port of Alicante witnessed an event that can be described as historical last weekend. The docking of the first cargo ship from China. This was a result of the congestion affecting Valencia’s docks, which could be considered situational, but taking advantage of this opportunity in the province’s business circles and taking into account the strong commercial activity sustained by an Asian giant, to boost freight traffic and a regular line. Agility and low costs in transportation are two strong reasons that seem to justify this claim.
The ship in question was BBC America, chartered by Global Cargo System. Docked at Pier 23 and unloaded 187 40-foot containers full of different products. And this is an event for the Port of Alicante because at the moment freight traffic is limited to 80% with connections to the Canary Islands, to be added to this a cargo ship working for the Tempe Group, which is mainly dedicated to container collection. From other national ports to transfer to Alicante.
The arrival of the ship was hammered out as a result of the congestion affecting the Valencian port, but there is a belief that in this case there may be an opportunity in the sense of the collapse in the docks of the capital of Túria. has been more or less structural and Alicante can be a good alternative for medium cargo ships.
Felipe López, Chairman of the Alicante Chamber Navigation Commission, said: “There is the possibility of establishing a regular line. It should be noted that it is in the Port of Alicante. There is no berthing problem and therefore much more agility. Unloading can be done in 24 to 48 hours and shipping costs for companies in the province will be cheaper, between 200 and 300 euros per container”.
These benefits would be of greater proportion if the province’s strong commercial activity with China is valued. In terms of exports, it ranks twelfth in the ranking with 114 million euros per year. However, the largest volume is imported, because China is the biggest supplier of Alicante with 1,293 million Euros..
The entire business spectrum, starting with footwear, is dedicated to this connection. Rafael Bernabeu, managing director of J’Khayber, said: “We all have to apply to the port of Valencia, so it would be extraordinary to have an Alicante alternative, because allows us to have competitive pricesThe same is the view of Jesús Navarro, managing director of the Carmencita spice company, who states that “currently it costs us between 800 and 1,200 euros to bring a container from Valencia, so the savings will be significant”. Also, the Port of Alicante will be very suitable for medium-sized ships.”
Luis Navarro, president of the Alicante State (Fempa) Metal Entrepreneurs Federation, is also following the same lines, emphasizing that “it would be great for almost all industries as there is a close link with China”.
The head of the Port Authority, Julián López, points out that the management of the cargo terminal has been privatized, but “It is a goal for the port to encourage freight traffic. and in this sense the company will always receive our full support”.
Novelda offers to host a dry dock
Fifteen companies from the Novelda region formed a company under the name Xiritxola, which aims to provide and offer financial and logistical support for the construction of a dry port in the municipality as part of the ongoing dispute with Villena. Jesús Navarro, managing director of Carmencita, one of the members of the new establishment, states that the project has designed a rail link with the Port of Alicante so that it can function as a berth for freight containers within the Mediterranean Corridor.
In his words, «The problem with the Port of Alicante is that it is very embedded in the city, so if commercial activity increases too much, serious traffic problems can arise. The aim is therefore to complete the four-kilometer catenary with no rail connection to a dry dock at Novelda».
Navarro points out that the plan was presented to Port leaders at a meeting two weeks ago. “As in other residential areas such as Malaga, we think there should be investment in goods, combining them with technological projects that are already underway,” he emphasizes.
Also part of the new company are Gonzalo Castelló, Jesús and José Luis Esteve, Luis Iniesta, Antonio Cantó, Luis Miguel Martínez, Juan Carlos Escolano, Paco Castelló and Mario Miralles.