The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has approved the consolidated budget project for the state-owned port system for the upcoming year 2026, which includes public investments worth 1.617 billion euros. This budget project has received the green light from the governing council of Puertos del Estado, a public agency under the Ministry that manages the 46 ports of general interest in Spain.
The main investments in Spanish ports, amounting to 900 million euros, will be allocated to infrastructure for port capacity improvement actions linked to demand evolution. Specifically, among the most important projects in terms of port infrastructure investment for 2026 are works to adapt to growing demand, such as the new northern terminal at the Port of Valencia; the new container terminal at the Port of Cádiz; the closure embankment of the Catalunya dock, berths 34C, 34D, and 34E, and the expansion of the Adosado dock at the Port of Barcelona.
Also noteworthy are the second phase of the Central Breakwater at the Port of Bilbao; the commercial dock breakwater at Puerto del Rosario and the extension of the Reina Sofía Breakwater in Las Palmas; the Raos 6 dock at the Port of Santander; the riverside dock in Granadilla (Tenerife); and the Baleares dock in Tarragona.
Dock Electrification
The second most significant allocation is for sustainability, which includes 280 million euros, with particular emphasis on dock electrification (also known as OPS) to provide power to docked ships, an investment largely tied to European funds. Thus, 17.5% of total investments will target sustainability, representing an increase compared to the 13% budgeted for 2025.
Additionally, the port system has approved investments of 240 million euros in 2026 (15% of the total plan) for the development of new land-based access, primarily rail, and improvements to existing ones, to increase the percentage of goods entering or leaving ports by train. This is complemented by direct contributions from ports to the general rail network, through agreements with ADIF, valued at 86 million euros in 2026. This is expected to reduce emissions linked to freight movement and help alleviate urban transport congestion.
The planning and development of ports are conceived with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions linked to port activity, but also reducing emissions from maritime and land transport chains that converge in ports.
**Railway connections**
Regarding the planned railway connections, those of the ports of A Coruña, Ferrol, Barcelona, and Castellón should be mentioned, as well as the expansion of the Isla Verde Exterior rail-port terminal in the port of Algeciras.
Lastly, the approved investment plan for the port system is complemented by a €50 million security reinforcement, port-city initiatives with over €48 million, and digitalization, with €26 million.
**Expansive budget of Puertos del Estado**
All these public investment figures are consolidated after the approval of the business plans agreed upon between Puertos del Estado and the Port Authorities, enabling the state-owned port system to strengthen itself to face challenges and continue improving its competitiveness. For the 2025-2029 period, the investment plans agreed with the port authorities under the 2026 Business Plan exceed €7 billion.
In any case, the 2026 budget approved by the governing council for the entire port system forecasts a net business volume of €1.38 billion, representing growth compared to the €1.29 billion closing figure for 2024 and the €1.338 billion projected closing for 2025.
The projected pre-tax result for 2026, as outlined in the budget, exceeds €182 million, allowing ports to maintain their economic self-sufficiency to undertake their investment plans as well as operational expenses. Regarding revenue, usage fees—which include, among others, cargo, vessel, and passenger fees—represent the largest item and are expected to rise to over €653 million next year. Meanwhile, the occupancy fee will increase to €368 million, and the activity fee will reach €164 million.
