Bilbao forges closer ties with the COSCO Group

(Posted on 10/11/25)

Under the slogan ‘Your Intermodal Link Between China, Iberia and the Atlantic Markets,’ the Bilbao Port Authority has taken part in the China International Import Expo (CIIE), one of the leading international trade and investment fairs. The presence of the Port of Bilbao is part of its strategy to consolidate its position as a leading port on the European Atlantic axis and to strengthen its trade relations with Asia, especially with China, the leading commercial market in container traffic.

The delegation from the Port of Bilbao was led by Ivan Jimenez, President of the Bilbao Port Authority, and Andima Ormaetxe, Director of Operations, Commerce, Logistics and Strategy. High level meetings were held with representatives of the COSCO Group, including COSCO Shipping Ports and COSCO Shipping Lines, the world's largest shipping company. These meetings have helped strengthen strategic cooperation between the two organisations, and new opportunities for international logistics and trade development have been explored.

At the CIIE trade fair, the Port of Bilbao presented to Chinese companies and institutions the opportunities it offers as the leading port on the Bay of Biscay and the Spanish Atlantic coast. Bilbao is the main logistics and maritime hub in northern Spain, while its strategic location makes it a key gateway between Europe, the Iberian Peninsula and global markets, offering an efficient alternative to the congestion affecting many of Europe's major ports.

In addition to its state-of-the-art facilities, seamless multimodal connections and links to more than 50 Chinese ports and 20 inland logistics centres, other stand-out features of the Port of Bilbao include its operational capacity, deep draughts, intermodal services and firm commitment to sustainability and technological transformation. The Port of Bilbao guarantees fast, sustainable and cost-effective freight transport, and has presented itself as ‘the smart choice for Atlantic trade’.

Ivan Jimenez, President of the Bilbao Port Authority, expressed his gratitude for “the hospitality and commitment of the COSCO Group to the Port of Bilbao”, and emphasised that “this collaboration will contribute both to improving the Port’s international standing and to strengthening its role as a strategic gateway for trade between Europe and Asia”.

With this institutional mission, the Port of Bilbao has reaffirmed its international outlook, its commitment to innovation and sustainability, and its goal of continuing to be a strategic logistics hub in global trade.