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The region’s countries and ports have become key players in European freight transport

Central and Eastern European logistics is back on a growth path, while industrial production in many Western European countries remains stagnant – this was one of the key messages at the 5th Central and Eastern European Intermodal Conference, organized by the Hungarian Association of Logistics Service Centres (MLSZKSZ).
Representatives from six countries and decision-makers from five major European ports discussed how economic shifts, technological change, and infrastructure development are transforming freight transport across the region.

A Turning Point for the Logistics Sector

The conference was opened by Zsolt Fülöp, President of MLSZKSZ, who emphasized that the past year has been a turning point for logistics companies.

“We have never been so close to a global conflict, while the economy is facing an overproduction crisis not seen in decades, with industrial capacity utilization barely reaching 70%,”
he noted.
He added that the technological transition in the automotive industry and the decline of internal combustion engine vehicles have reshaped supply chains, directly affecting logistics service providers.

Despite these challenges, intermodal freight traffic in Hungary grew by 21%, showing the steady expansion of combined transport.

“Hungarian operators are facing increasing competition. The market is not shrinking – efficiency has become the key word,”
the MLSZKSZ President said.

Global and European Outlook

Dr. Zoltán Pogátsa, Associate Professor at the University of Sopron, provided an overview of global and European economic trends.
He noted that economic growth has been driven mainly by employment expansion rather than productivity gains:

“One million more people are working in Hungary today than fifteen years ago, yet relative productivity still lags behind the EU average,”
he pointed out.

The international environment is also challenging: German industrial output has fallen back to 2005 levels, while Russia has turned into a war economy, with military spending quadrupling. The forint has remained stable against the euro and even strengthened against the dollar, but next year’s political events could introduce short-term exchange rate risks.

EU Transport Policy in Transition

According to Ákos Érsek, Senior Advisor at the International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport (UIRR), EU transport policy has entered a new phase. The European Green Deal has concluded, giving way to three new priorities: competitiveness, resilience, and defense mobility.
Ongoing initiatives such as the TTR timetable reform and the Infrastructure Capacity Regulation aim to make rail freight transport more predictable and flexible, with greater involvement of intermodal stakeholders.

“Rail freight has the greatest growth potential within combined transport,”
he emphasized.

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Romania and Slovenia: Major Rail Projects Creating a New Logistics Axis

Speakers in the regional session highlighted how the region could become a new logistics corridor.
Claudiu Staicu, Deputy Director General at the Romanian Ministry of Transport, reported that more than 3,000 km of railway lines are being modernized, and the Port of Constanța is undergoing a comprehensive upgrade program until 2027, positioning Romania as a key logistics link between the Black Sea and Central Europe.

Vlasta Kampoš Jerenec, Head of the Rail Department at the Slovenian Ministry of Infrastructure, emphasized that the Divača–Koper railway is the flagship of Slovenia’s transport development, set to significantly increase the share of rail transport in Koper Port.

Karolina Wlazło, Business Development Director at Loconi Intermodal S.A., stated that Poland’s intermodal freight traffic has doubled, and further growth depends on expanding terminal capacity and digital infrastructure.

Zsófia Béres, Logistics Manager at Plimsoll Zrt., presented the challenges of river transport through the example of the MCC terminal’s 400-ton gantry crane shipment.
She noted that unpredictable water levels of the Danube make project cargo transport highly dependent on weather and river conditions, increasing costs.
She argued that building dams at Adony, Fajsz, and Nagymaros would not only improve navigability but also enhance flood protection and energy production:

“The Danube is not just a transport route – it’s a vital part of Hungary’s energy and water management strategy,”
she said.

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Green Growth, Rail Expansion, and New Port Partnerships

One of the conference’s most important panels focused on international port traffic trends, featuring representatives from Hamburg, Rijeka, Koper, Trieste, and Antwerp–Bruges.
Moderator Zoltán Fábián pointed out that the conflict in the Gulf of Aden has once again disrupted global supply chains, forcing logistics routes to be reorganized.

“In Hungary, however, 2025 already shows signs of traffic recovery, and intermodal terminals are increasingly acting as regional hubs,”
he said.

Alexander M. Till, Head of the Hamburg Port’s Vienna and Budapest offices, highlighted that the port handles 2.5 million containers by rail annually, a growing share of which is connected to Central and Eastern Europe. To meet rising demand, Hamburg is investing in capacity expansion and digitalization to integrate more efficiently with the region’s logistics networks.

Walter Holzhammer, Representative of the Port of Antwerp–Bruges for Hungary and Austria, noted that the port handled 13.5 million TEU in 2024, a 9-million-ton increase over the previous year.

“We live in a vulnerable yet developing world – logistics is once again on a growth trajectory,”
he said, adding that Antwerp is now Europe’s largest chemical logistics hub.

Southern ports are also expanding rapidly.
László Grósz, Central European Business Development Manager at the Rijeka Adriatic Gate Container Terminal, reported a 17% increase in container traffic in the first nine months of the year, alongside €6 billion worth of railway infrastructure projects in Croatia.
Sebastjan Sik, Country Manager for Hungary at the Port of Koper, added that over 600,000 containers were handled this year, with the goal of further increasing the rail share of freight transport.

Marco Zollia, Sales and Marketing Director of the Port of Trieste, noted that while Trieste is not the largest among Adriatic ports, its fast rail connections and proximity to Eastern European markets provide a strong competitive edge.

All participants agreed that Hungary serves as the key inland link between the Adriatic and Northern European logistics corridors, and that the region’s future will be shaped by green and rail-based freight transport development.