According to the strategy outlined and published last week, of the 931 million euros investment anticipated until 2035, 219 million will derive from the port authority or community funds, and 712 million from private companies.
“At the port of Leixões, the capacity is expected to increase by 10 million tonnes. The largest capacity increments will occur in containerized cargo with the new North Container Terminal and in ‘roll-on roll-off’ cargo,” reads the Council of Ministers resolution published on Tuesday.
The plan involves “constructing a new quay and expanding the grounds at the North Container Terminal through a public tender,” expanding the quay and grounds for ‘roll-on roll-off’ cargo in the south, “converting the oil terminal and a new inspection center,” or modernizing the general cargo terminals, solid bulk, and alignment of the quay wall.
Alongside various environmental investments, such as the “installation of green energy production and supply systems for ships,” or the development of railway terminals and “structuring the logistics platform of Leixões,” there are also plans to “modernize urban spaces, particularly with the municipality of Matosinhos,” rearranging “the port perimeter road to facilitate port-city coexistence.”
For the “logistics platform and railway at the port of Leixões,” 72 million euros are allocated, and for the “integration of the port of Leixões with Matosinhos,” 93 million is forecasted.
“At the port of Leixões, the goal is to reach a movement of 20 million tonnes (+35%) and one million TEU [a unit measure equivalent to a 20-foot container] (+40%) by 2035, with notable increases in breakbulk cargo, ‘roll-on roll-off’ cargo, containerized cargo, and solid and liquid bulk,” the resolution of the Council of Ministers further states.
New concessions are also planned for the container terminal, general cargo, and ‘roll-on roll-off,’ with investments of 430 million euros, 85 million, and 50 million respectively, with respective capacities of 1.6 million TEU, 4.5 million tonnes, and 3.0 million tonnes.
In 2024, the port of Leixões saw a 2% reduction in cargo moved compared to 2023, dropping from 14.7 million tonnes to 14.4 million, losing the lead in the Northwest Peninsula to the port of La Coruña, in Galicia.
The Government also aims to achieve a “movement of 260,000 cruise ship passengers,” after the number reached 196,000 in 2024.
The Administration of the Ports of Douro, Leixões, and Viana do Castelo (APDL) and the Matosinhos City Council were questioned about the planned investments, and responses are awaited.
The Portos 5+ strategy, aimed at promoting growth in the port sector over 10 years, foresees an investment of 4 billion euros, 75% of which is private, and the launch of 15 new concessions, as announced by the Government on July 30.
The launch of 15 new national concessions by 2035 is also anticipated.
