SpainAn investigation by RESCOP and the End the Arms Trade campaign reveals that Barcelona has become the main transit point for MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether), a chemical additive used in gasoline, heading to Israel since October 2023. Between March 2025 and May 2026, Israeli customs recorded nine bulk MTBE shipments from Barcelona’s port destined for Haifa, totaling over 50,000 tons. The report highlights a planned supply line with consistent shipments every six to eight weeks from the same terminals (TEPSA and TRADEBE) and the same recipient (ITALMAR 3000 S.L.). While Spain is a common exporter of MTBE, these shipments are not produced domestically but transported from third countries, transiting through Barcelona before being re-exported to Israel under the label 'origin Spain.' The study notes that only one shipment was officially declared in Spain’s trade data, while others passed unnoticed due to their non-EU origins. The MTBE arrives from Saudi Arabia, the United States, China, Japan, and France, stored in Barcelona before being reloaded onto ships bound for Israel. The researchers combined Israeli customs data with information from Spain’s Tax Agency and Barcelona Port to reach
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the movement of MTBE to Israel as part of a supply chain potentially supporting occupation and segregation, referencing international legal obligations related to the Court of Justice of the International Court. It emphasizes the economic implications of this trade and raises the
