PortCastelló Receives Delegation of Global Zircon Market Leaders

PortCastelló received a visit from a delegation of some of the main global leaders in the zircon supply chain as part of the Zircon Industry Association (ZIA) Annual Conference, which will be held in Valencia on May 20 and 21. The conference will feature a presentation by the President of the Port Authority, Rubén Ibáñez, in which he will provide an overview of the Spanish terminal, positioning it as one of Europe's most dynamic logistics hubs.

According to the latest statistics, PortCastelló is currently growing in cargo traffic 31 times faster than the average for the Spanish port system, consolidating its position as the ninth in total traffic volume among the 46 ports that make up the state network.

During the meeting, led by the Director of the Port of Castellón, Manuel J. García, the more than a dozen members of the delegation visited the port facilities by catamaran to learn firsthand about the activity, operational capacity, efficiency, and functioning of the port area.

The port currently applies a 40% bonus on the Merchandise Fee for the traffic of tiles, paving stones, and ceramic products, the same percentage that is allocated to incentivize the import of raw materials such as feldspars, clays, and mineral sands.

PortCastelló is the gateway for fundamental raw materials such as clays, feldspars, and mineral sands, as well as a critical volume of zircon for the manufacturing of glazes and pavements.

One of the key points that President Ibáñez will present at the ZIA forum, which will take place at the Hotel Las Arenas, is the comparison of costs and competitiveness. The head of PortCastelló will argue that Castellón's efficiency is not only operational, thanks to the versatility of its terminals, but also economic through the incentive policy promoted by the Port Authority.

In addition to the visit to the Port of Castellón, the program of events also includes visits to Porcelanosa, the ITC, and the Estadio de la Cerámica (Ceramic Stadium).

The Zircon Industry Association is the organization of the world's leading producers and consumers of zirconium, which together represent approximately 80% of the annual global production of zirconium and zirconia. It is a non-profit trade entity that works on behalf of its members to develop and promote zirconium, zirconia, and derived substances, advocating the benefits of their wide application in today's world.

The organization brings together the main global producers and consumers in the sector, who together represent approximately 80% of the annual production and consumption of these materials.

It also promotes the use and applications of zirconium and its derivatives, while encouraging the industry to operate with high standards of sustainability, social responsibility, and corporate governance (ESG), provides technical assistance to its members, supports scientific research on the life cycle of materials and their environmental impact to facilitate regulatory compliance.