The Logistics Sector

The Logistics Sector In Apulia, the word logistics has become a synonym for economic growth and development in all its productive sectors. Ports, the interport, roads, rail routes and airports are as much tools for progress in the region as research and innovation, and not just in the transport sector, but for the entire regional economy. Apulia’s logistic system comprises a strategic network of connections characterized by an ever-more efficient inter-modal transport scheme of connecting roads, railway lines, ports and airports. The region’s geographic position means it is also a European gateway for other Mediterranean countries and the Balkans, and of course its 865 km of coastline means that cultural and commercial exchanges have always been part of the region’s life. The logistics network is divided into two inter-dependent levels: the first comprises the large intermodal centres whose purpose is to manage the flow of goods in and out of the region, whilst the second is dispersed across the territory and is an integral part of the functionality of the logistics of the region’s productive business clusters. Infomobilty is another aspect of this sector. Of all Apulia’s most important projects in fact, SITIP – the integrated computerised information system of Apulian ports – represents the first step towards an integrated network of logistics services. SITIP also provides online access to the various services linked to all port activities involving the traffic of goods. Technology is used in the sphere of public transportation to bring together operators and services whilst also providing users with information. Public transport is also an area in which the regional government is committed to developing networks of multi-modal and integrated (road-rail-air-sea) services and to bring about a common regional tariff. Apulia today benefits from an excellent infrastructure both inside and outside the region’s borders. It comprises:     12.000 km of road network that includes 2 important motorway hubs     1528 km of railway lines     A port system with 3 major ports (Bari, Brindisi, and Taranto)     6 minor ports (Manfredonia (FG), Barletta (Ba), Molfetta (Ba), Monopoli (Ba), Otranto (Le), Gallipoli (Le)     1 interport     4 airports including 2 international (Bari and Brindisi), 1 domestic (Foggia) and 1 cargo (Grottaglie Taranto) The innovative interpretation the regional government wants to assign to the logistics sector involves the integration of services and the creation of a single system truly able to compete on the international market.

Browse the brochure

Apulia Logistic Business Cluster

The Apulia Logistics Business Cluster was born with the objective of creating added value through action in the entire regional logistics system. It gathers companies, research centers, universities and associations for development specific to the sector. The Cluster Development Program outlines five macro-projects, guided by three key strategies: competitiveness; innovation; internationalization. Apulia’s strategic position guarantees the Logistics Business Cluster a top role in any transport and passenger traffic related to the Mediterranean Sea. The cluster includes: 158 Companies, 3 Universities (University of Bari, University of Salento, Bari Polytechnic) 2 Research centers CC-ICT Sud (Southern ICT Competencies Center), Southern Transport Innovation Center, National Research Council, 34 Government agencies, business /professional /academic associations and unions.

For information on activities by the Apulian Logistics Business Cluster: distrettologisticopugliese@assindustria.ta.it

The Airport System

Bari AIRPORT

The ‘Karol Wojtyla’ International Airport of Bari is the most important in Apulia for volume of traffic, with 3.6 million individual arrivals and departures in 2013. The airport has been upgraded remarkably, with newly developed infrastructure, greater accessibility, and construction of a railway spur line for intermodality.
These developments have made the Bari Airport one of the most important in the Italian system, as indicated by its inclusion in the National Airports Strategy. The airport is served by the most important national and international companies, including low-cost lines, thus ensuring that Bari and its surrounding territories are served by regular connections with all the most important European markets.

Brindisi AIRPORT

The Salento Airport, near Brindisi, is Apulia’s second-ranked airport for passenger traffic (roughly 2.0 million passengers in 2013). It provides access to a territory that includes the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto. In the strategy of transport systems integration, the Salento Airport is in the unique position of having seaport facilities immediately adjacent, so that in fact the airport and port compose a single complex. Data from recent years show how the airport is continuing to register strong growth in both international line and charter traffic (respectively +2.0% and +12.0% in 2013,).

Foggia AIRPORT

The Foggia Airport serves a basin of traffic with strong potential, particularly in the tourist sector. In recent years the terminal has been enlarged and improved through a series of interventions. The airport currently serves primarily for helicopter flights to the nearby Tremiti Islands. Planning for a project to lengthen the main runway is currently well under way, with the objective of providing still greater capacities, particularly for service in the tourism market.

Grottaglie AIRPORT

‘Marcello Arlotta’ Airport at Grottaglie is situated only a few kilometers from Taranto. This is one of Italy’s most important cargo airports, closely linked to the aerospace sector. The main runway length is 3,200 meters, making it one of the longest in the country. This means it can service the massive B747 LCF planes used in transshipment of Boeing 787 Dreamliner products, manufactured in Apulian factories.
The airport is currently the focus of a series of interventions for enlargement and additional infrastructure, with strong support from the regional government in agreement with Aeroporti di Puglia SpA and the major companies in the region. The aim is to provide Italy with infrastructure of European stature, for the support of research and production activities in the aerospace sector.

Bari Dry Port

the Apulia Regional Dry Port, strategically situated at less than five kilometers from Bari, from Karl Wojtyla International Airport and the nearest superhighway is the biggest of Apulia’s dry ports and one of the largest in southern Italy.
Bari Dry Port’s strategic position makes it the only Mediterranean structure capable of managing traffic both towards the Balkans area and along the by Bari-Varna (Bulgaria) Trans-European Corridor 8, as well as into Greece and Turkey.

BARI Dry port IN NUMBERS

• 500,000 m2 total yards an d floor -space
• 27 Companies
• 1300 Arrivals and departures daily (all vectors )
• 1 million tons of cargo per year
• 4 Direct -line rail connections to other major Italian intermodal hubs

Apulia’s Seaports

The Apulia port system consists of the three major or “national-level” ports of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto and six secondary (regional provincial) ports: Manfredonia (Foggia), Barletta (Bari), Molfetta (Bari), Monopoli (Bari), Otranto (Lecce) and Gallipoli (Lecce).

The port of Bari

The Port of Bari is the main access node to the Bari-Varna (Bulgaria) Trans-European Corridor 8, which connects the entire south of Italy with the Black Sea regions to the east. The port is strategically situated, with excellent connections to the main urban, industrial and agricultural areas of the entire south, and is heavily used for both goods and passengers.

The port of Brindisi

The Port of Brindisi, is another multi-use node, serving commercial, industrial and tourist traffic. The port plays a central role in connections to Eastern Europe, especially to the Baltic nations, Greece and Turkey. The facilities are developed in three separate basins, as a whole considered one of the safest ports in the lower Adriatic.

The port of Taranto

The Port of Taranto is the third-ranked in Italy for goods shipment. The fact of the surrounding lands, free of urban concentrations, has permitted major expansions to support a full range of functions. The port is still developing and growing, with a strategy of achieving a greater role in traffic for the entire Mediterranean.

The railway system

The territorial network totals 1,200 km of lines, primarily in north-south corridors. Over half of this is managed by the main national company, Trenitalia. The oldest of the remaining four companies is Gargano Railways, founded in 1931: one of the first companies in Italy to shift from steam to electrical-powered locomotives. South-East Railways, also founded in the early 1900s, is the second-largest private rail company in Italy, at 474 total km of track. The remaining two companies, “North Bari” and “Appulo Lucane” were founded somewhat later.

The road system

Apulia regional network, now counting 313 km of superhighways, 1600 km of national highways, and finally 1400 of regional and 8200 km of provincial roads. This dense network, plus the presence of two important national superhighway nodes (Bologna-Taranto and Naples-Canosa di Puglia) ensures excellent road transport directly into continental Europe.
A number of upgrading projects are currently under way to increase the road network, and particularly to improve the urban and rural-highway connections with superhighways.

Video Logistics Sector