The Best container terminal, the largest at the Port of Barcelona, generates approximately 42% of the wealth of this port infrastructure and 0.7% of Catalonia's GDP. In 2025, the terminal created a gross value added of 2,195 million euros. These figures come from a study on socio-economic impact conducted by KPMG and commissioned by the terminal's managing company, Hutchison Ports Best.
The report also concludes that the jobs generated during 2025 amounted to 20,571, of which 7,313 were direct and 13,258 indirect and induced. The infrastructure has invested 32% more than planned, reaching 876 million euros, primarily to increase automation, sustainability, and digitalization.
The terminal has strengthened its capacity with the addition of two new cranes for container unloading, which join the 13 already in operation at the Port. According to Guillermo Belcastro, CEO of Hutchison Ports Best, these new cranes are 10 meters taller and allow for better operation with larger vessels. The final phase of expansion, including six automated blocks and the planned arrival of three more cranes in 2028, is currently being completed.
During 2025, the terminal handled 1,273 vessels and has tripled its traffic volume in just over a decade, reaching nearly 2.8 million TEUs (container traffic measurement unit) between 2013 and 2025. Hutchison Ports Best operates in 53 ports across 24 different countries.
Guillermo Belcastro highlights that the Barcelona terminal stands out for being the first semi-automatic, the most efficient in terms of moves per hour, and the most sustainable globally. The president of the Port of Barcelona, José Alberto Carbonell, emphasized the value that terminals bring to the supply chain with a global vision.
