The Mediterranean corridor, a multiplier economic impact

Although the most important effects of the Mediterranean corridor they are medium and long termDue to the reduction in transport costs and the improvement in competitiveness that it induces in the economies of the entire area, the construction of the infrastructure itself also represents an important injection for the activity in the four autonomous regions that it crosses: Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia.

Thus, a report commissioned by the Valencian Association of Entrepreneurs (AVE) points out that for every euro invested in this infrastructure an impact of 1.71 euros is generated on its productive fabric, a figure that rises to 2.14, if calculated on the effective volume of investment. For example, in the case of the Comuntat Valenciana, it was estimated that the initial investment planned a decade ago, of 5,472 million, would generate an impact of 9,339 million only during its construction, something that could be transferred to the rest of the territories.

The launch of the Mediterranean Corridor it will mean better connections for 50% of the Spanish population, both for passengers – which will benefit tourism – and for goods. Thus, on the Quiero Corredor website, it is estimated that, if this infrastructure were up and running today, freight traffic would be 29% higher and at a cheaper price, which would benefit a multitude of export sectors, such as automotive, furniture, footwear, tiles, agriculture or the logistics industry itself, among others.

AUTOMOTIVE

The automotive sector is the sector that uses the railroad the most. Despite being behind maritime and road transport, 14.3% of shipments of finished and component vehicles They are carried out through freight trains, especially from factories to shipping ports and vice versa. Hence, the National Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers (Anfac) considers the Mediterranean Corridor as a strategic infrastructure, taking into account that the Ford, Seat and Nissan plants are located in this basin.

FOOTWEAR

The same does not happen with footwear, which has in the railway a practically testimonial means of transport, in front of the road, the sea and the air. However, the general director of the Federation of Spanish Footwear Industries (Fice), Ismael Martínez, believes that the entry into service of the Corridor could modify this behavior, given that 80% of the sector’s annual exports, estimated at 2,600 million of euros before the pandemic, they are destined for Europe, and the train became an attractive alternative for companies in the Mediterranean area.

TOY

Neither the toy has been using the railroad to transport its goods so far, focusing on the sea route for long distances and the road for the closest ones. However, the president of the Spanish Association of Toy Manufacturers (Aefj), José Antonio Pastor, considers that the situation could vary, taking into account that 80% of the exports, which amount to 673 million, travel to Europe, and the main production center is in the province of Alicante. The broker would also favor commercial customer visits.

PIECE OF FURNITURE

The piece of furniture is a firm defender of the Mediterranean corridor, all of it, and which currently does not make significant use of the train either. However, the sector considers that it can become an alternative of extraordinary importance, and more so in a context such as the current one, in which ocean freight costs have skyrocketed. This is stated by the general director of the Valencian Community Wood and Furniture Business Federation (Fevama), Amparo Bertomeu, who recalls that the main ports of embarkation for the sector are in Barcelona and Valencia. In addition, 68% of exports, estimated at 2,300 million euros, travel to Europe, so it would also be a good way of connection.

LOGISTICS

The sector that attends the construction of the corridor with the least enthusiasm is logistics. And the fact is that the railroad will become a direct competitor of the highway, when until now it barely played a testimonial role. The general secretary of the Valencian Federation of Transport and Logistics (FVET), Carlos García, points out that it is very difficult to assess the impact, although it is already advanced that it will have some impact on the 25,000 trucks that transport agri-food products to Central Europe for four months. He also regrets that the virtues of the train are extolled at the cost of demonizing road transport.

SIGHTSEEING

On the opposite side to logistics is the tourism sector, which awaits the completion of the works of the Mediterranean corridor as authentic May water. A longing easy to understand if one takes into account that of the 70 million annual visitors that receives the Mediterranean basin, almost 40% come from European countries. The president of the hotel association of Benidorm and the Valencian Community (Hosbec), Toni Mayor, is convinced that it will increase the number of tourists.

TILE

The Spanish ceramic sector, 90% concentrated in the Castellón cluster, It exported in 2020, mainly through maritime and road transport, merchandise worth 2,947 million euros, of which 1,432, 48.7%, has its destination in Europe. From the employer association Ascer, a radical defender of the need for the Mediterranean corridor, they estimate that it will bring multiple benefits in the form of cost reduction, more competitiveness and environmental efficiency.

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CITRUS

For its part, citrus production in Spain produces up to 7.5 million tons per year in its 300,000 hectares of cultivation located on an axis that starts in Tarragona and ends in Huelva, of which 50% are in the Valencian Community and 41 % in Andalusia, according to data from the Citrus Management Committee. The Mediterranean corridor is also strategic for an activity that sells 93% of its harvest in Europe, transported in 174,000 trucks crossing the border every year. Lower cost and higher efficiency will be the key advantages.