The BEST container terminal has become one of the great economic engines of the Port of Barcelona, and of Catalonia. The infrastructure, managed by Hutchison Ports, generated a gross added value of 2,195 million euros in 2025, a figure equivalent to 0.7% of Catalan GDP and which demonstrates the growing role of the port as a reference logistics platform for international trade.
The data is part of a study prepared by KPMG commissioned by Hutchison Ports BEST, presented this Monday at the Cambra de Comerç de Barcelona. The report also attributes to the terminal the creation of 20,571 jobs, adding direct, indirect and induced employment. Of these, 7,313 correspond to the terminal's own activity, while the rest are distributed among transport, industry and service companies that are part of its value chain.
Beyond the economic magnitudes, the figures reflect the evolution of BEST since its entry into operation. In just over a decade, the terminal has tripled the volume of containers managed, reaching 2.8 million TEU in 2025. In the last fiscal year alone, 1,273 vessels operated.
"The BEST terminal concentrates around 42% of the gross added value generated by the Port of Barcelona as a whole"
This growth has been accompanied by an investment effort greater than initially planned. Hutchison Ports has allocated 876 million euros to the development of the terminal, 32% more than budgeted, with actions focused on automation, digitalization and sustainability. According to the study, BEST concentrates around 42% of the gross added value generated by the Port of Barcelona as a whole.
This investment effort also translates into greater operational capacity. This Monday, two new quay cranes arrived, prepared to operate new generation container ships. This incorporation will be joined by the final phase of the BEST expansion, which foresees six new automated blocks and three more cranes, with an expected arrival in 2028.
The reinforcement of operational capacity coincides with advances in the railway accesses of the Port of Barcelona. The port authority has formalized the partial reception of two actions linked to the future Nou Llobregat railway complex, with an investment exceeding 22.6 million euros financed with NextGenerationEU funds. The works will allow progress in the future southern railway connection and strengthen the intermodality of an infrastructure that aims to increase the weight of railway freight transport.
New advances in railway accesses
Coinciding with the presentation of the study, the Port of Barcelona has also announced a new step in the development of its railway accesses. The port authority has formalized the partial reception of two key actions for the construction of the future railway complex of the Nou Llobregat Terminal, with an investment exceeding 22.6 million euros financed with European NextGenerationEU funds.
The works have allowed the completion of the platform on which the future southern railway connection of the port will be built, as well as the reorganization of existing services and the preliminary work to deploy the new railway infrastructure. This action is a key piece to reinforce the intermodality of the Port of Barcelona and increase the weight of railway transport in the movement of goods.
Overall, the railway development of the Nou Llobregat Terminal has already accumulated an investment of 33.6 million euros, entirely financed through NextGenerationEU funds.