On February 19, ERHARDT held its annual convention at the Sociedad Bilbaína.
The session was opened by Rafael Erhardt, Chairman of the Board, who addressed the geopolitical situation and its impact on the markets in which the Group operates. Next, Eugenio Erhardt Barrenechea, CEO of the ERHARDT Group, presented the strategic priorities by division, highlighting key aspects such as adaptability, agility in decision-making, and discipline in resource allocation.
In the Logistics division, Eugenio reviewed the activities of Forwarding, Ports, and Maritime Services, emphasizing ongoing investments and a selective strategy of organic and inorganic growth aimed at strengthening market positioning and launching new business lines with sustained growth potential.
In Steel & Trading, he highlighted “the progress of the international expansion plan with the opening of the new office in Antwerp, which will enhance our competitiveness in Northern European markets.”
In Technology, he noted that the division continues to grow, supported by a strong presence in the Public Administration segment and a focus on Artificial Intelligence and advanced data management.
Meanwhile, the Insurance & Risk Management division closed 2025 with 25% growth and faces the new cycle in the insurance market with the goal of doubling its volume by 2028, leveraging organic growth and the selective integration of specialized brokerages into the project.
The convention included two working sessions focused on analyzing the positioning of the Group’s divisions in today’s market environment.
The first session, dedicated to Logistics, was moderated by Alberto Uriarte, Board Member of Erhardt. Participants included Pablo Ramilo and José Antonio Cánovas (Ports); María Carmen Aragón and Alejandro Cañas (Forwarding); and Beatriz Baspino and Ronal Twigt (Maritime Services).
The discussion analyzed the impact of geopolitical developments on logistics chains, the evolution of traffic and margins, operational pressures in ports and maritime services, and the need to continue advancing in service specialization and integration. Growth opportunities and the role of investment and technology as levers to strengthen the division’s market positioning were also explored.
The second session, moderated by Almudena López del Pozo, Board Member, brought together representatives from the other divisions. Speakers included Mikel Freire, Mariana Ruiz, and Alberto Harriero (Steel & Trading); Javier Martínez and Jesús David Sánchez (Technology); and Santiago Elizalde, Néstor Rodríguez, and Ramón Quiroga (Insurance & Risk Management).
The debate focused on the impact of the new regulatory and financial environment, strategies to diversify markets, and reinforcing customer proximity. Concrete initiatives to improve operational efficiency through digitalization and process optimization were also discussed.
At the close of the sessions, the CEO summarized the key takeaways and emphasized:
“At Erhardt, we aim to grow in a solid and agile way, always close to the customer, with a long-term vision, investing where real opportunities exist, and generating sustainable value across all our divisions.”
The convention concluded with the tribute “Remembering Eugenio,” in which Guillermo Alonso-Olarra, Secretary of the Board, paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Chairman Eugenio Erhardt, highlighting his legacy and the lasting impact he left on the company.
