Zona Franca de Barcelona presents its 2026 budget, consolidating a trend of stability

• With a forecast of €31.4 million in profits, representing a 2% increase compared to the previous year’s closing estimate, Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona maintains a positive trend.

• The organization has announced the current status of the DFactory Barcelona expansion project, which has already begun the urbanization process, the installation of the heating and cooling network, and the Cube building. Construction of buildings A and D will begin early next year.

• CZFB has also explained that it has already reached 18% of the execution of its 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, which is built on four pillars: Economic and Social Development of the Territory, Urban Integration, ESG Compliance, and Economic Sustainability.

Barcelona, December 15, 2025.- The plenary session of the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) approved this morning the entity’s 2026 budget, with a forecast of €31.4 million in profit from ordinary activities, a 2% increase compared to the previous year’s closing estimate. The CZFB has also projected a net turnover for 2026 of €82 million, reflecting the positive evolution of its recurring business, greater operational performance, and the solid asset structure of the CZFB. It is worth noting that the CZFB is a public entity that is entirely self-financed through its own funds and the management of its assets, meaning that all its profits are allocated to promoting innovation and driving economic growth.

The plenary session of the CZFB was chaired by the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, who highlighted that “the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona has established itself as a key space for the economy and innovation of the city and its entire metropolitan area. It is currently entering a new strategic cycle with the 2025–2029 Plan, focused on Industry 4.0 —also known as urban industry—, fully aligned with the City Council’s Strategic Economic Plan. Through the Impulsa Plan, which includes priority development areas for economic activity, the Zona Franca de Barcelona is one of them thanks to this strong commitment to Industry 4.0.”

 For his part, Pere Navarro, special delegate of the State in the CZFB, explained during his address that “the CZFB is a financially sound institution that, despite having made significant investments, has always aimed to maintain economic and financial balance. Its commitment goes beyond the land it manages, ensuring the continuity of economic activities carried out in the industrial estate, which are mostly industrial in nature. A clear example of this is the Nissan site, which represents a success story thanks to the alliance of all parties involved. Today we can affirm that jobs have been recovered and that industrial activity is progressing well with the revival of the Ebro brand, in collaboration with the Chinese multinational Chery.”

The 2025–2029 Strategic Plan reaches 18% execution

During the session, CZFB’s General Manager, Blanca Sorigué, explained the progress of the organization’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, which has already implemented 18% of its planned actions in its first year. The CZFB Strategic Plan 2025–2029 focuses on promoting projects for the Economic and Social Development of the Territory, Urban Integration of District 4.0, and ESG Compliance, all based on sustainability to generate the resources necessary to develop these three pillars.

In this regard, Blanca Sorigué emphasized that “we are at 18% implementation of the 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, and I would like to underline that the purpose of the CZFB is economic, industrial, and social. One example of this is that we are in discussions with Hospital Clínic and Hospital del Mar to set up their research and development laboratory for 3D printing at the CZFB’s 3D Incubator.” Sorigué also highlighted “the CZFB’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5, dedicated to gender equality, and very notably Goal 17, focused on partnerships, since everything we do is carried out alongside partners.”

DFactory Barcelona reaches full occupancy

The CZFB has also reported that DFactory Barcelona, the international benchmark ecosystem for Industry 4.0, has reached 100% occupancy, currently hosting 42 companies. This success has driven an expansion of DFactory Barcelona, which includes the construction of four new buildings, increasing its surface area from the current 17,000 m² to nearly 60,000 m². “In July of this year, we began the urbanization works and the installation of the heating and cooling network. At the end of October, we started building the Cube, a space of more than 1,000 m² that we want to host major cultural, artistic, and musical events in Barcelona, as well as international meetings linked to Industry 4.0. Our goal is for citizens to feel this activity area as something much more their own,” explained Pere Navarro.

Innovation, sustainability, and commitment to Industry 4.0

Likewise, the CZFB will continue to boost the entrepreneurial ecosystem with top initiatives and projects through the Logistics 4.0 Incubator, Spain’s incubator dedicated to Industry 4.0 in the logistics chain sector. In its two years of activity, it has already incubated 60 startups that have generated nearly 460 jobs and an approximate business volume of €46 million.

On the other hand, the CZFB has presented the calendar of its main events dedicated to economic promotion, led by the 28th edition of SIL Barcelona, ​​the International Logistics Exhibition – which will be held from June 3 to 5 in Hall 8 of the Plaza España of Fira de Barcelona -; the 7th edition of Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW) – in early October at DFactory – and the 6th edition of Barcelona Woman Acceleration Week (BWAW) – from March 4 to 6 also at DFactory -.

The CZFB has also stated that in 2026 it will remain committed to economic activity and promotion, fully focused on innovation, sustainability, and its commitment to Industry 4.0. It is worth noting that the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona is a public entity that self-manages through the rents received from companies located in the industrial estate and the profits generated from its activities, to boost economic activity and social well-being.