ONE Portugal serves importers and exporters through container shipping services linking Portuguese ports with international markets. Its priorities include stronger inland connections, lower-emission transport and digital tools that simplify shipping for customers. In this interview with Bridges, Country Head Isabel Azeredo, who also serves as honorary consul of Japan in Porto, discusses ONE’s growth, Portugal’s port development and opportunities for closer trade ties with Japan.

Bridges: With ONE expanding its Portuguese network, including the launch of the Iberia Baltic Express, how do you see the company’s role in Portugal developing, and where do you see the greatest potential for growth?

Azeredo: The development of ONE in Portugal has been defined by a commitment to sustainable growth by strengthening the connectivity of national ports, expanding to national dry ports, bringing us closer to our customers, and consolidating our position as a trusted partner.

Our Iberia Baltic Express, the IBESCO service, which boasts a successful track record of nearly three decades in the market, positions itself today as a premium, stable, and reliable solution for our customers. This service plays a structural role, acting as an anchor that connects national ports to the main ports in Northern Europe. This ensures efficient connections to deep-sea oceanic routes bound for Asia, the Americas, and Africa.

Looking at our position today in September 2026, ONE has grown far beyond a traditional shipping line into a trusted strategic partner for Portugal’s import and export market. We now rank 3rd nationwide on the critical Asia-Europe route and hold the top market position for reefer cargo to Latin America. Our growth is driven by operational agility, enabling us to adapt quickly and expand our services as customer needs evolve. At the heart of our achievements in Portugal are three key drivers: an ambitious vision to compete at the top, a team that pairs deep industry know-how with fresh talent, and our total credibility across our stakeholder network.

How are Lisbon and the Porto region, particularly through the ports of Lisbon and Leixões, evolving as strategic logistics gateways, and what could further strengthen Portugal’s position as an international logistics hub?

The ports of Lisbon and Leixões are crucial infrastructure for national economic development and the competitiveness of Portuguese international tarde. The current moment is marked by a clear paradigm shift, as we are witnessing renewed governmental focus and a strong strategic vision for the maritime port sector. This is evident in national master plans such as the Portos 5+ strategy and the port development strategic plans up to 2035.

This public determination is accompanied by robust ongoing investments and modernization plans across port terminals. These interventions focus on substantial capacity expansion, operational automation, the energy transition through decarbonization efforts and Onshore Power Supply infrastructure, as well as greater intermodal integration. Furthermore, strengthening Portugal’s position requires the strategic expansion of inland container depots and seamless connection to its broader hinterland, particularly through high-capacity rail and road corridors linking the ports directly to key Spanish markets such as Extremadura and the main logistics hub of Madrid.

To fully consolidate the country’s role as a leading international logistics hub, maintaining momentum in the execution of these expansion projects is essential. Portugal’s strategic geographical location, combined with modern, digital, and highly efficient ports, opens a unique opportunity to attract new cargo volumes and maritime routes.

As both ONE Portugal Country Head and Honorary Consul of Japan in Porto, how do you see Porto’s role in Portugal–Japan relations, and how can ONE’s Japanese heritage and presence in Portugal contribute to stronger trade and maritime ties between the two countries?

ONE’s corporate identity is inextricably linked to its Japanese heritage, born in 2018 from the merger of the container shipping operations of three historic Japanese shipping companies: NYK, “K” Line, and MOL. This cultural background deeply influences our organizational values, which are rooted in quality, innovation, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.

The Northern region of Portugal, with its highly dynamic industrial ecosystem and strong export orientation, plays a vital role in deepening trade ties with the Japanese market. Furthermore, we have been witnessing an increase in Japanese investment in Portugal. According to data from the Banco de Portugal, Japan’s FDI in Portugal more than doubled between the end of 2024 and the end of 2025, and this positive trend continues into 2026, nearing €1.6B/year. Although the technology and energy sectors are the main sources of investment, traditional industries maintain a strong presence in the market, notably Toyota, a historic client for ONE.

ONE’s heritage acts as a natural economic and cultural bridge. By bringing the operational excellence and long-term vision characteristic of Japanese business to the Portuguese market, we establish an environment of deep mutual trust. ONE operates as a strategic facilitator, not only by providing the essential maritime connectivity for national products to reliably reach the Far East, but also by attracting local investment and proving that Portugal offers logistics frameworks capable of meeting the highest standards of international trade.

Beyond these established automotive and industrial pillars, we are witnessing a clear evolution in Foreign Direct Investment patterns. Today FDI is expanding rapidly into high-value strategic sectors like renewable energy, digital technology, and advanced electronics, with major Japanese corporations actively backing Portugal’s green transition and tech ecosystems.

As ONE invests in cleaner fuels, more efficient vessels and digital technologies, how are these developments reshaping shipping for Portuguese customers and the wider market?

The shipping and logistics industry is undergoing one of the most profound transformations in its history. At ONE, we view this transition not merely as an environmental obligation, but as an opportunity to create real value for our customers in Portugal.

Our primary focus is reflected in our vessel investments. We are deploying highly energy efficient vessels equipped with advanced technologies and preparing our vessel operations for alternative clean fuels such as methanol and ammonia, as well as expanding our use of biofuels. This direct investment in next generation vessels equips Portuguese exporters with lower carbon transport solutions, helping them reduce Scope 3 emissions and maintain a competitive edge in international markets with strict sustainability standards.

Together with our modern vessel deployments, we are continuously advancing our digital transformation to streamline shipping processes, enhance transparency, and deliver greater operational agility for our clients.

Ultimately, these developments combine ONE’s global scale and innovation with the close proximity and deep local expertise of our team in Portugal. Our clear commitment is to ensure that Portuguese shippers and national ports remain strongly connected to major global trade lanes through a resilient.