Seatrade-Maritime: Barcelona ups green fuel ambitions with Shanghai pact

Published by Seatrade-Maritime

The Ports of Barcelona and Shanghai have signed a strategic port agreement to strengthen co-operation on methanol, alternative fuels and sustainable port infrastructure.

The agreement formally establishes a “sister ports” relationship between the two port authorities, the partners said, consolidating Barcelona’s role as a Euro-Mediterranean logistics hub while deepening links with one of the world’s largest economic centres. 

Signed by Port of Barcelona president José Alberto Carbonell, Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission general director Xiao Hui and Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) vice president Yang ZhiYong, the deal focuses on digitalisation, port security, and the development of green shipping corridors between the Mediterranean and the Far East.

The partnership builds on a preliminary agreement signed in July 2025 and comes as Barcelona accelerates investment in methanol and alternative fuels infrastructure.

“The agreement officially establishes the ‘sister ports’ relationship between Shanghai and Barcelona and aims to boost co-operation in areas such as the digitalisation and security of port operations; developing green ports and alternative fuels; intramodality and fostering sustainable maritime corridors between the Far East and the Mediterranean,” the Port of Barcelona said in a statement.