To support growing customer business in Spain, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics has opened a new branch office in Barcelona. “Spain and Portugal have been suffering from the economic downturn in Europe over the past few years. However, a more recent trend is that auto and equipment companies have relocated production to Spain, resulting in increased export and demand for logistics services.” says Erik Noeklebye, Head of Region Europe. “We also expect the Spanish economy to pick up, and with growing purchasing power to see a corresponding growth in imports. When a market grows to this extent we ramp up our services to support our customers logistics needs both on the ocean and on land,” continues Erik Noeklebye. WWL has been operating in Barcelona since 1987, through the agent Agencia Maritima Espanola Evge S.A (Evge). Since 1999, the WWL has also operated an inland transportation company in Barcelona, delivering trucking and other inland transport services. The new Iberia branch office will integrate and further develop WWL’s existing land-based and ocean logistics services to the Iberian market, creating a stronger offering of multimodal service solutions. Head of Iberia Branch will be Ramon Oliete, formerly head of the WWL operations at Evge. The core eight-person team from Evge has transferred into the new branch, thus maintaining market experience and relationships, ensuring a seamless transition for customers. Evge will remain WWL’s husbandry agent for Spain and continue as WWL’s agent in Greece and Turkey.