In early 2026, the Port of Riga welcomed two new scheduled container services. British line Ellerman City Liners connected Riga with Gdynia, Teesport, Tilbury, and Rotterdam, while global carrier Hapag-Lloyd launched a route Wilhelmshaven–Hamburg–Klaipeda–Riga–Rauma–Helsinki–Wilhelmshaven. Vessels from both lines will call at the port weekly, expanding Latvian customers’ access to international markets and improving delivery reliability.
Riga’s connection to the Hapag-Lloyd network was the result of a trade mission to Hamburg in September 2025, led by Latvian Minister of Economy Viktors Valainis. The two container ships on the new service will be serviced at the berths of Riga Universal Terminal, while Ellerman City Liners’ vessels will operate from Riga Central Terminal. According to the minister, the return of the Hapag-Lloyd line improves the efficiency and security of supply chains and opens up additional export opportunities.
The Port of Riga remains the only Latvian port with regular container lines and specialized terminals. With the launch of the new services, their number has reached nine – the highest ever. In 2025, the port handled 495,700 TEUs, accounting for 99% of the country’s containerized cargo, with containers accounting for 30% of the cargo portfolio. According to the development strategy, the container segment is a priority and has demonstrated an average annual growth of approximately 4% over the past five years.