The Spanish tile industry finds the Port of Valencia one of the main gateways for the distribution of its products to different countries. Thus, during 2024, Valenciaport managed export operations for these goods to a total of 359 ports around the world.
The Valencia Port Authority’s report on ceramic product traffic reflects that last year, cargo loading operations were carried out at ports in 149 countries, representing the handling of 80,624 full containers, transporting more than 2 million tons of goods.
Although the majority of operations, a total of 191, are destined for Spanish ports, the US market is the second most important market for tile exports. With 182 operations, 290,420 tons exported, and 12,916 TEUs, traffic is primarily concentrated in the ports of New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, which receive 6,799 containers, although traffic also reaches other, more unique ports such as Honolulu, which received 1 TEU.
The British market is Valenciaport’s second most important market for exports. During 2024, 68 operations were carried out, with 128,569 tons and 4,349 containers, mainly arriving at the ports of London and Liverpool. In the European market, Italian ports are another of the most important destinations for tiles departing from Valencia, with 64 operations and 76,517 tons.
Australia and Brazil among the most prominent destinations
Outside of the traditional US market and European destinations, Australia and Brazil are among the countries that receive the most ceramic products from Valenciaport. Thus, during 2024, both countries received 66 unloadings from the tile sector, representing 27,715 tons and 1,195 TEUs in the case of Australia, and 6,076 tons and 378 containers in the case of Brazil.
The Asian market also has a significant presence, especially in China and Turkey, with 58 and 57 operations respectively, and more than 20,000 tons of exports between the two destinations. In this geographical area, there are more unique destinations such as Azerbaijan, Cambodia, and Taiwan, where ships have arrived with loaded containers or in transit at Valenciaport.
The African continent, Algeria and Morocco, account for the majority of ports where tiles shipped from Valencia arrive, although there are also operations to more unique locations such as Cape Verde, Senegal, and Nigeria.
From Sydney to Senegal via Barbados
Tile traffic leaving the Port of Valencia extends across the globe, with a significant presence in cities such as New York, where a total of 2,681 containers arrived in 2024, and London, with 2,111.
The Australian port of Sydney is another destination for Castellón tiles, with 647 TEUs annually, but there are also other lesser-known destinations, such as Caucedo, in the Dominican Republic, where 2,955 containers were exported. Dakar, in Senegal, is another destination where a significant number of TEUs arrived, a total of 1,667, but Valenciaport also sent containers to Bermuda and Haiti, where containers arrived at the ports of Hamilton and Cap Haitien. Thus, in Barbados, more than 6,400 kilometers from Valencia, 24 containers of Castellón tiles were exported last year, and 19 arrived at the port of Nassau, in the Bahamas.
