Paulo Duarte Group (GPD), Iberian operator of road transport and logistics services, has closed the purchase of Barquín and Otxoa, a company based in Ortuella (Vizcaya) with more than four decades of experience in temperature-controlled transport and logistics and a workforce of over 500 employees.
As GPD has pointed out in a note, the incorporation of Barquín and Otxoa strengthens its already established presence in the Spanish market, with a particular focus on the north of the country and, specifically, in the Basque Country, one of the main industrial and logistics hubs of the Iberian Peninsula.
After this operation, GPD estimates to reach a consolidated turnover close to 240 million euros by 2026.
The Paulo Duarte group includes, among others, the firms Transportes Paulo Duarte, Hurtrans, and Iberen, and adds capabilities in the transport of general cargo, temperature-controlled products, hazardous goods (ADR), fuels, and energy.
With the integration of Barquín and Otxoa, the group expands these capabilities and deepens its specialization in refrigerated transport and logistics. The complementarity between both companies will make it possible to extend geographical coverage, enhance flows between Portugal and Spain, and offer a more integrated solution to clients with activities throughout the Iberian Peninsula.
The operation also responds to the greater demand for robust operators, with scale, investment capacity, and a high degree of specialization, who are at the same time close, flexible, and able to adapt to the specific needs of each client.
Gustavo Paulo Duarte, co-CEO of Paulo Duarte Group, has emphasized that the entry of Barquín and Otxoa into the group represents a "decisive" step in the creation of a reference Iberian group in specialized transport.
"To the experience, the deep knowledge of the Basque market, and the operational excellence of Barquín and Otxoa, we add the dimension, the investment capacity, and the Iberian network of GPD. This combination allows us to offer our clients greater geographical coverage, more capacity, and more integrated solutions in Portugal and Spain, preserving the standards of rigor, safety, and proximity that distinguish both organizations," he highlighted.
In the same line, António Paulo Duarte, co-CEO of Paulo Duarte Group, has spoken out, who has emphasized the operational potential of the integration. "This operation goes far beyond scaling up. The integration of Barquín and Otxoa into the group's Iberian network creates concrete opportunities to improve planning, strengthen flows between Portugal and northern Spain, increase fleet utilization, and reduce empty kilometers," he said.
According to what he added, the complementarity between both structures will allow progress in efficiency in areas such as purchasing, maintenance, technology, and systems. "These are synergies with a direct impact on competitiveness, the reliability of operations, and the quality of service provided to our clients," he emphasized.
Continuity of the brand and new phase of expansion
Barquín and Otxoa will retain their brand, their teams, and their operational centers. The integration will be carried out progressively, "ensuring the continuity of activity and service to clients and valuing the experience, knowledge, and relationships forged by their teams over more than 40 years," the company indicated.
The company will also rely on the dimension, investment capacity, and resources of the Iberian network of GPD, with room to generate synergies in fleet management, technology, information systems, purchasing, and commercial development.
The transaction marks a new phase in GPD's long-term growth strategy, supported by the strategic alliance with ICG Infra. "The ambition is to consolidate an Iberian platform for specialized transport with greater scale and investment capacity, preserving local knowledge, specialization, and operational flexibility that distinguish each company," he concluded.