Our History — Eceiza S.A. | Four generations since 1930

Four generations serving international trade. The history of Eceiza S.A., customs brokers in Barcelona since 1930.

Who we are

FÀBREGAS-ECEIZA FAMILY

Fàbregas-Eceiza family tree

With more than 95 years of experience in customs and international trade, we are a family business with deep roots in Barcelona, committed to supporting the growth of Spanish businesses while maintaining a strong international outlook.

Our story began in 1930, when Josep Eceiza Farré founded the company, establishing a business built on technical expertise, precision, and responsibility.

Over the years, the company overcame the challenges of its historical context. Under the leadership of Francisca Eceiza Barbará and Pompeyo Fàbregas Bara, the business expanded and strengthened, preserving the family legacy while adapting to the changing landscape of international trade without losing its commitment to close relationships and personalised service.

Today, the company is led by Pompeu Fàbregas-Eceiza, who ushered in a new stage following Spain's accession to the European Economic Community (EEC). His leadership redefined the business through legal specialisation, international expansion, and the adoption of new technologies.

This new chapter has been further strengthened by the incorporation of Francesca Fàbregas-Eceiza. Her arrival represents the continuation and evolution of the family business, where innovation, digitalisation, and AI are harnessed to deliver the same personalised service and trusted relationships that have always defined Eceiza SA.

Heritage

OUR HISTORY

Portrait

Historical image

Legacy

«We do not see tradition as a limitation, but as our source of inspiration.»

1930

José Eceiza Farré

1st generation

As the company's founder, he launched the business, establishing the starting point of the company's journey and laying its foundations.

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1936–1939

Civil war

From its very beginnings, Eceiza SA had to face the turbulent years of the Spanish Civil War. This period profoundly shaped the company, fostering a spirit of resilience, adaptability, and strength in the face of adversity that has remained a defining part of its identity ever since.

1939–1959

Autarky period

Following the end of the Spanish Civil War, Spain entered a period of autarky characterized by international isolation, extensive state intervention, and severe restrictions on foreign trade. For Eceiza SA, as for the customs sector as a whole, these were particularly challenging years that demanded exceptional resilience and adaptability in a deeply constrained economic environment.

1944

Francisca Eceiza Barbará

2nd generation

She inherited the family business, becoming one of the first women in Spain to lead a customs agency.

Against all odds, she guided the company through the challenging years of post-war Spain and the autarkic period, ensuring its continuity and long-term consolidation.

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Card — Francisca Eceiza Barbará, Registered Customs Agent

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1948

Pompeyo Fàbregas Bara

Coming from the ship agency sector, he joined the company and, together with his wife, Francisca Eceiza, took over the management of the business.

His maritime expertise, combined with his professionalism and leadership, played a key role in strengthening the family business and shaping its client-focused approach to service.

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Eceiza SA's early office

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1959

Stabilisation Plan

The approval of the 1959 Stabilization Plan marked the beginning of the end of Spain's economic isolation and the gradual opening of the country to international trade.

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Stabilisation Plan — Eceiza SA

1959–1975

Expansion period

This shift in economic policy marked the beginning of a new period of growth and laid the foundations for Eceiza SA's expansion, driven by the revival of international trade and transport, as well as the development of the customs sector.

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Expansion period — Eceiza SA

1983

Pompeu Fàbregas-Eceiza Bara

3rd generation

A Law graduate from the University of Barcelona, he joined the company as the third generation of the family business.

His arrival marked a new phase of legal specialization, bringing extensive expertise in customs law and further strengthening the company's legal certainty and advisory capabilities.

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Third generation — Eceiza SA

1983 — present

Legal defence for the client

Throughout these years, Eceiza SA actively represented clients in numerous legal proceedings before the customs authorities, helping secure favorable outcomes in complex customs cases.

This expertise enabled clients not only to optimize their operating costs, but also to make every decision with greater legal certainty.

1984

International outreach

Under Pompeu's leadership, the company began its international expansion by establishing a network of trusted partners across multiple countries. The opening of the Chinese market marked the starting point of this strategy, laying the foundations for the group's international presence.

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International outreach — Eceiza SA

1986

Spain joins the EEC

Spain became a full member of the European Economic Community (now the European Union) on 1 January 1986, initiating a gradual tariff dismantling process that was completed on 1 January 1993.

As customs formalities with EEC member states were eliminated, approximately 75% of Eceiza SA's business volume disappeared. This transformation marked the beginning of a new phase, driving the company to specialize in customs operations involving non-EU countries.

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Spain joins the EEC — Eceiza SA

GSP service: a legal solution to pay less duty

As the company shifted its focus toward non-EU markets, Eceiza SA identified that most goods manufactured in China could not benefit from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), as they were being shipped from Hong Kong.

Pompeu travelled to Hong Kong to find a freight forwarder capable of issuing Through Bills of Lading in China covering the entire journey from mainland China, via Hong Kong, to Spain. This enabled importers to qualify for GSP benefits and reduce import duties. The initiative marked the beginning of Eceiza SA's strategy of marketing maritime transport supported by legal expertise, significantly expanding the company's client portfolio.

1988

Growth thanks to the free circulation service

Following the success of the GSP service, Eceiza SA identified that Spain's quantitative import restrictions on goods from non-EU countries did not apply in the same way in other EEC Member States. Under the Treaty of Rome, goods originating in third countries that had been released for free circulation in another EEC Member State could subsequently enter Spain without being subject to Spain's quantitative import restrictions.

To enable Spanish importers to access restricted products without those limitations, Société International de Libre Pratique SRL was established in Le Perthus, France. This structure made it possible to route shipments through China–France–Spain, lawfully circumventing, rather than evading, Spain's quantitative import restrictions, while fully complying with the applicable European legal framework.

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Free circulation service — Eceiza SA

1994

Pioneers in customs clearance to Andorra

In response to the decline in customs clearance activity following Spain's integration into the EEC, Pompeu Fàbregas pioneered the customs clearance in Barcelona of goods destined for Andorra.

Initially, this operation faced significant administrative obstacles, as the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) refused to allow customs clearance in Barcelona. Eceiza SA actively defended the legal basis of the procedure and, after escalating the matter to the European Ombudsman, ultimately secured official recognition of its legality. This milestone established a new area of activity for the company and reinforced its reputation for legal expertise and effective institutional advocacy.

2000–2005

Executive director TPF

Pompeu Fàbregas-Eceiza was appointed Executive Director of the TPF Forwarding Network, playing a key role in the international expansion and consolidation of the freight forwarders' association.

This period significantly strengthened the group's global network of partners and international relationships, directly contributing to the international growth and positioning of Eceiza S.A.

2009

Managing director of ADICAL

Following the outbreak of allergic reactions linked to dimethyl fumarate (DMF), footwear importers found themselves without effective representation amid intense criticism from the tabloid press and the Spanish footwear manufacturing industry. In the absence of an organization to defend their interests, they established an independent association and appointed Pompeu Fàbregas as its General Manager, recognizing his legal expertise and his ability to engage effectively with public authorities.

As a result, Eceiza SA strengthened its position as a leading reference in the field of international trade and customs advisory for the footwear industry.

2020

BREXIT

Following the announcement and subsequent implementation of Brexit, Eceiza SA immediately assessed the new regulatory landscape resulting from the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.

This proactive approach enabled the company to anticipate customs and tax changes, providing clients with timely and accurate advice that ensured business continuity and legal certainty during a period of significant regulatory uncertainty.

2025

Francesca Fàbregas-Eceiza i Araki

4th generation

Holding dual degrees in Law and Advertising & Public Relations, she joined the company as the fourth generation of the family business.

Her arrival marks a new stage of innovation, digital transformation, and AI-driven optimization. Continuity and progress come together to enhance a client-focused approach built on trust, personalization, and close relationships, while preserving the legal rigor and human touch that have defined Eceiza SA since its beginnings.

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Francesca and Pompeu Fàbregas-Eceiza — Eceiza SA