Several months ago, at Conde Fernández Hermanos, we mentioned that Galicia is very important in the logistics sector, both nationally and internationally. Not surprisingly, we have a developed logistics infrastructure that offers key services, especially at the maritime level. Today, we are going to explain the details of the Galician logistics network so that you can understand the role that each piece of infrastructure plays in our region.
Our roads and ports are key infrastructures, of course, and fundamental pillars of our economy. First and foremost, you must bear in mind that our geographical location is very important for many companies and entities, both in Spain and Portugal and in the rest of Europe. In this sense, our air infrastructure is less developed, and our rail network is limited to the national level. Thus, land and sea are Galicia’s main playing fields in logistics and transport. They are essential for our agricultural, fishing and industrial sectors, in particular.
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The main roads and traffic routes in Galicia
On the mainland, our transport infrastructure relies heavily on a comprehensive road network. Two names stand out above the rest: the A-8, known as the Cantabrian motorway, which connects Galicia with the other autonomous communities in northern Spain; and the A-6, which runs from A Coruña to Madrid. In fact, the Cantabrian motorway branches off from the latter, further reinforcing its importance in Galician logistics.
But we must not forget our connections not only with southern Galicia, but also with Portugal. Although our A-57, the Atlantic highway, only goes as far as Pontevedra, the AP-9, the Atlantic motorway, goes as far as Tui, connecting with the Portuguese A-3 motorway. Needless to say, this is an essential route for Galicia and even Spain.
The A-52, the Rías Baixas highway, also plays an important role, connecting us with Castile and León, from Pontevedra to Zamora.
Having this diversity of options is key to our logistics and transport infrastructure. Not only because it guarantees optimal connections with key destinations on the Iberian Peninsula, but also because it allows us to adjust the costs and rates of our activities according to customer needs.
Galician ports, our main logistical asset
Galicia’s Atlantic location gives the region a clear advantage in international logistics. After all, no matter how solid our road network is, there are roads everywhere, but not all of those places are located in coastal areas. Galicia, in particular, occupies not only part of the Atlantic coast, but also part of the Cantabrian coast. This means that our logistics and maritime transport are capable of travelling to and from a wide variety of international destinations.
The ports of Vigo, A Coruña and Ferrol, in particular, are our main points of import and export of goods, essential for fishing, the textile sector and the automotive industry. These ports are key to Galicia’s economy and transport infrastructure, and are also fundamental to the development of countless commercial activities at the Spanish and international levels.
Another advantage of our ports is their excellent connection to our road network. This allows for very agile freight transport and logistics management, guaranteeing the high level of competitiveness of the Galician sector.
The warehouses and centres of our logistics infrastructure
In Spain, there are an estimated 279 logistics parks. In Galicia, the number is relatively low, as they are mainly concentrated in the A Coruña area, with logistics centres in Arteixo, Ledoño and Culleredo. In the province of Pontevedra, we have PLISAN (Salvaterra – As Neves Industrial Logistics Platform) and the Vigo park. However, this is not a very high number, and the provinces of Lugo and Ourense do not have a park or logistics centre to support activities in the area.
However, the work we logistics operators in Galicia do on a daily basis is key to filling this gap. There are quite a few companies in the sector that have their own logistics network, which is highly developed and constantly growing. This gives us valuable independence when it comes to managing our customers’ goods. This translates into personalised, tailor-made service and treatment, capable of responding to all kinds of needs in real time.
This is one of our advantages at Conde Fernández Hermanos, as we always seek to locate our warehouses close to major urban centres and the main transport routes in the A Coruña area. Ensuring these types of connections is essential in our sector, as our customers want punctuality above all else, and a fast and reliable response to their needs. This ability to respond immediately, as well as the flexibility offered by our logistics infrastructure, are determining factors in our competitiveness.
How can Galicia’s logistics and transport infrastructure evolve?
At Conde, we are aware that Galicia’s infrastructure must take on specific challenges to improve its functioning and effectiveness. If we want transport and logistics in Galicia to grow at the same pace as the national and international markets, we must make changes and modernise our networks to rise to the occasion.
In this regard, exports and imports, the cornerstones of the sector, face an uncertain future due to the current economic situation. However, it is our geographical location, as we pointed out earlier, that gives logistics operators in Galicia our main strength: our versatility when it comes to making deliveries and collections from many destinations and points of departure. Because our ability to adapt is considerable, and today we have the necessary means and communications to make the most
We operate in the road freight transport sector, covering both domestic and international routes and providing our customers with logistics solutions for warehousing and distribution.
