Container Terminal

The Port of Barcelona’s Muelle Sur Container Terminal is 100% owned by APM Terminals and has an annual throughput capacity of 1,560,000 TEU. APM Terminals Barcelona is located on the Mediterranean Coast in the Catalan Region of Spain, in Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city. In 2022, APM Terminals Barcelona's concession agreement was extended until 2036. An investment of EUR 170 million was agreed over the coming years to enable the terminal to handle the largest container ships in service.

Barcelona’s hinterland accounts for 80% of the ports total cargo volume. A large variety of industries are located in the hinterland, including automotive, textile, chemical and pharmaceuticals. It is benefits from close proximity to the ZAL – Logistics Activities Zone – and the duty-free area, Consorcio de la Zona Franca. Leading international brands including Ikea, Decathlon, Lidl, Amazon, Schneider Electric, Honda Logistics, Inditex, and Mango have also located their distribution centers in Barcelona.

The terminal has the benefit of being located on the entrance canal to the port. It has its own on-dock rail connection, immediate access to the motorway network and automated gate access for optimum intermodal efficiency. Customs offices are also located inside the terminal to optimise the logistics process.

Straddle Carrier The terminal is equipped with the most advanced technology in order to maximize the handling of containers and operate as efficiently as possible. Our automated gates handle over 2,000 truck operations per day using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for maximum efficiency.

- Annual capacity: 1,260,000 TEU
- Wharf: 1,515m
- Maximum Draft: 15.45m
- LOA: 400m
- Yard: 81 ha
- Reefer plugs: 724 extendable to 940
- Rail tracks: 6 x 750m
- Cranes: 3 Panamax/ 5 Post Panamax/ 5 Super Post Panamax
- Maximum Outreach: 23 rows
- Gate lanes: 8 in/5 out
- Straddle carrier: 74
- Reach stackers: 2
- Empty Container Handlers: 5

In 2022, SGS Auditors verified APM Terminals Spanish Gateways as a multisite organisation to grant the Quality, Environment, Safety, Health, Security and Energy Management certifications according to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards for its container terminals in Valencia, Barcelona, Castellón and Gijón.

Download certificates (pdf)

In 2015 APM Terminals Barcelona obtained OEA status for Protection and Security. Full OEA status was granted to the terminal in 2020, when it received the Authorised Economic Operator (OEA) certificate for Customs Procedures.

OEA status brings a number of benefits for customers, such as simplified customs procedures, fewer physical and document-based controls, and priority treatment if selected for control. AEO status also means that the controls the terminals has in place reduce theft and losses, results in fewer delayed shipments; improved planning; improved customer service and lower inspection costs of suppliers.