The logistics sector acquires particular importance in a globalised economy. Integral logistics, reverse logistics and the sector's involvement with ICTs and intermodal transport systems play a decisive role in the sector development.

Catalonia, which is strategically placed for incoming and outgoing freight, accounts for 11% of the logistics sector in Spain and it has a network of intermodal logistics centres that are mainly to be found in and around Barcelona. Among them, the Zona Franca Logistics Park, the Logistics Activities Area (ZAL) and ProLogis cover a surface area of 300 ha, whilst there are also other excellent logistics initiatives in Vilafranca del Penedés and Girona.

It is anticipated that the traffic in the Port of Barcelona and the Logistics Platform in the Llobregat Delta will double by the year 2020. The ZAL in the Port of Barcelona, the port's intermodal logistics platform and the first to be set up in Spain, from which 40 of the best logistics freight companies carry out their foreign trade operations, will be enlarged by 204 ha when the course of the River Llobregat has been altered. The port of Tarragona and the region's three international airports Barcelona, Reus and Girona also play an important role in the logistics sector.

Companies like Ikea, Sony, Schneider Electric, SCA, Roche, Sanofi Aventis, Haldex, Honda and Nissan have set up distribution centres and logistics activities in Catalonia.

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