The Inditex group (Zara, Bershka, etc.) has just announced an investment of 900 million euros over 2024-2025 to reinforce its logistics capacity. Their organization is original, using air transport from a limited number of platforms. This investment comes at a time when other groups (Amazon, Maersk) are easing up on logistics investments in Spain.

1.8 billion over the fiscal years 2024 and 2025: this is the amount of investment announced by the Inditex group (Zara, Bershka, Oysho, etc.) to build new logistics centers in Spain and the Netherlands. These projects accompany the relocation of activities.

The main project is the construction of a new 286,000 m2 distribution center in Zaragoza, Zaragoza II, dedicated to the Zara brand, in addition to the existing 240,000 m2 platform which has been in operation since 2003.

In the Valencia region, two projects are planned, with surface areas of 116,000 m2 (Bershka brand) and 141,000 m2 (Tempe footwear brand). Finally, in the Netherlands, the Lelystad platform, dedicated to the Zara brand, will benefit from an additional 123,000 m2. Total investment is estimated at €900 million for each of the two years, for an overall budget of €1.8 billion.

The group specifies that these projects will be operational "from the second half of 2025 and will meet the highest sustainability standards and use the latest technology". The ultimate aim is to "strengthen Inditex's capacity to respond to strong medium- and long-term growth opportunities worldwide".

Advanced relocation

The Spanish clothing giant is not experiencing the crisis. It has just announced sales growth of 10.4% in 2023 (€35.9 bn, including €9.1 bn for e-commerce). With 5,692 stores worldwide (as at January 31, 2024), Inditex continues to develop a strategy of global expansion, and is looking to enter new markets in 2024 (Uzbekistan and Cambodia) and return to Ukraine (50 openings planned).

At the same time, however, it is pursuing a strategy of relocating its purchasing activities, which was well underway before the Covid-19 pandemic. Indeed, 48% of suppliers are now located in Spain, Morocco, Portugal and Turkey. Morocco has even grown in importance, with 216 suppliers (+18% compared with 2022), ahead of Turkey (186, -7.5%) and Portugal (114, -4%).

Zaragoza airport, a key asset

Spain has 138 suppliers. The rest are concentrated in Asia. While China tops the list of suppliers (367 companies), their number has fallen by 9% over the past year, to the benefit of India (122, +11%) and Pakistan (69, +17%). Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam complete the list.

The Group's other key asset is Zaragoza airport. Thanks to Inditex, the airport has risen to 3rd place in terms of air freight traffic, and is once again performing remarkably well: +27.8% in the first two months of 2024 (after +2.2% in 2023).

Every week, 50 cargo aircraft use the airport. Add to this the fact that Spain's four main cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Zaragoza) are all within a 300 km radius, and it's easy to see why the group decided to double its logistics capacity here.

Daniel Solano