We arrange freight from Mallorca and Ibiza to Italy in usually 3–4 days: after the overnight sailing to Barcelona it is about 880 km to Turin and 980 km to Milan (more like 2–3 days in total), around 1,150 km to Verona and Bologna and 1,400 km to Rome. We collect in Palma and inland Mallorca, on Ibiza and on Menorca, and deliver anywhere from Piedmont to Lazio.
Overland through France, or a second ship from Barcelona?
The first leg never changes – an overnight sailing from Palma, Alcúdia, Ibiza or Mahón to Barcelona. After that there are two ways: the truck carries on by motorway through southern France and Ventimiglia, or the trailer boards another ship in Barcelona to a port on the Ligurian or Tyrrhenian coast. Which one makes sense depends on the shipment:
| Your situation | Usual choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| a few pallets for Lombardy or Piedmont | overland | groupage runs regularly, Turin and Milan in 2–3 days |
| urgent goods | overland | one tractor unit from Barcelona, no waiting for a sailing |
| chilled cheese from Menorca | overland | the reefer runs through without further reloading |
| full trailer to central Italy | consider a second ferry | if waiting for a departure is fine, the trailer sails unaccompanied |
| summer season | depends on schedules | sailings change, we confirm the option in the quote |
Which road, and how many kilometres?
From the port of Barcelona the truck takes the AP-7 to the La Jonquera / Le Perthus crossing, the A9 in France past Perpignan, Montpellier and Nîmes, crosses Provence onto the A8 and follows the Côte d'Azur past Nice to Ventimiglia. In Italy it continues on the A10 towards Savona and Genoa, where the routes branch:
- Turin – about 880 km from Barcelona, 2–3 days from the island,
- Milan – about 980 km, 2–3 days,
- Verona and Bologna – around 1,150 km, 3–4 days,
- Rome – about 1,400 km, 3–4 days.
Tolls for Spanish autopistas, French péage and Italian autostrade are included in the price. Ibiza and Menorca have fewer sailings than Mallorca, so allow some slack there.
When may a truck not drive in Italy?
Italy bans vehicles over 7.5 t on Sundays and public holidays, usually from 9:00 to 22:00; from June to September the ban starts at 7:00, and further banned days are set by the annual calendar, mainly on summer weekends. France has a ban from Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00 and on holidays, and Spain restricts trucks on selected holidays. A shipment docking in Barcelona on a Friday is therefore sometimes unloaded in Milan only on Monday. Italian warehouses also often receive goods only in the morning or in an agreed slot – tell us the conditions at the delivery point.
What leaves the islands for Italian buyers
- Binissalem – wine in cartons on pallets for wine shops and restaurants in Milan and Turin.
- Sóller and the Serra de Tramuntana – olive oil and almonds for food wholesalers.
- Inca – shoes and leather goods for showrooms in Lombardy and the Veneto.
- Manacor – workshop furniture and artificial pearls for jewellers.
- Ibiza – staging, lighting and sound from clubs and festivals, returning to rental companies in northern Italy after the season.
- Menorca – Mahón cheese in a reefer and shoes from the workshops around Ciutadella.
Pallets, loading metres and several suppliers in one vehicle
With groupage you can ship a single pallet; a euro pallet equals 0.4 loading metres. Larger consignments travel as a part load, and a full trailer takes 33 euro pallets, 13.6 loading metres and about 24 t. We often combine goods from several island suppliers for one Italian buyer – each consignment on its own CMR, with the driver quoting the order reference at every pick-up. The trailers of the weekly groupage line we organise from the Czech Republic to the Balearics come back from the islands, so even a small shipment for Italy can often be linked to another load heading for the mainland. Hotels and seasonal businesses close in winter, which is why clearances and refits mostly fall between November and April.
Who books the transport, and which papers are needed?
Under EXW or FCA the buyer in Italy arranges transport and books it with us; under DAP the seller on the island takes care of it. The Balearics are part of Spain, of the EU customs territory and of its VAT area – unlike the Canary Islands, nothing is cleared. A CMR and a delivery note or invoice are enough. On the islands loading happens mostly in the morning, and not at all on the regional holiday of the Balearic Islands.
What to send us for an Italy price
- Island and pick-up point (village or industrial estate), loading hours and reference.
- Delivery address in Italy and the warehouse's time window.
- Number of pallets or loading metres, weight and whether the goods need cooling.
- When the goods are ready and when you need them in Italy.
During office hours you get a price within 30 minutes; we usually arrange the vehicle or trailer space within 24 hours and tie the departure to the next suitable ferry. For transport within Italy see transport to Italy, and for the line to the islands transport to Mallorca and Ibiza. Other lanes from the Balearics: to the Czech Republic and Slovakia, to Germany, to Austria and to France.
Shipping from the islands to Italy every month? We agree fixed loading days and a fixed ferry connection – read about regular transport, or contact us directly.
Related guides: Food transport · Beverage transport · Preparing pallets