A recent economic impact study has revealed that the 45 ports under the jurisdiction of the Generalitat of Catalonia generated a total revenue of €1.7 billion in 2023, equating to approximately €4.7 million daily. This economic activity significantly contributes to the region's economy and extends its impact beyond the municipalities where the ports are located.
The study highlights that these ports are not only vital economic infrastructures but also play a crucial role in regional development and social cohesion. The total contribution to Catalonia's GDP from the port system amounts to €978.6 million, with €432.6 million derived from salaries, representing nearly 50% of the GDP generated by port activities.
In terms of tax revenue, the ports contributed €278.4 million, which includes €165.3 million from value-added tax (VAT), €60.1 million from personal income tax (IRPF), and €53 million from corporate tax (IS). Additionally, they generated €124 million in social security contributions.
Job creation and economic impact
The activities at the 45 ports have led to the creation and maintenance of 13,317 full-time jobs. The economic impact is assessed through three categories: direct, indirect, and induced impacts.
Direct impact
The direct impact quantifies the activities carried out by entities directly linked to the ports, including fishing cooperatives, marinas, shipyards, and local tourism businesses. These activities accounted for a direct revenue of €785.9 million, contributing €343.9 million to the GDP and supporting 6,588 full-time jobs.
Indirect and induced impact
The indirect impact arises from intersectoral relationships among the goods and services used by port-related entities, while the induced impact comes from the consumption spending of workers employed at the ports. Together, these impacts generated an additional revenue of €929.9 million, contributing €634.7 million to the GDP and creating 6,729 full-time jobs.
Multiplier effects of port activity
The study found that for every €100 in direct revenue generated by port activities, an additional €120 in indirect and induced revenue is created, resulting in a multiplier effect of 2.2. Similarly, for every €100 contributed directly to the GDP, an additional €180 is generated (multiplier of 2.0), and for every 100 direct jobs, an additional 100 indirect and induced jobs are created (multiplier of 2.0).
This economic impact study was commissioned by Ports de la Generalitat and conducted by the University of Barcelona's transfer laboratory. The findings were presented at the recent Barcelona International Boat Show.
