From January to June 2025, the vessels of ASCO, a company of AZCON Holding, transported 4.6 million tons of cargo, which is 12% more than the same period last year. The growth was primarily due to tankers, whose transportation volume reached 2.2 million tons against 2 million tons in 2024.
A meeting on the development of the maritime industry was held under the chairmanship of Zhanibek Tayzhanov, head of the Committee for Railway and Water Transport of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Representatives of the Aktau and Kuryk seaports, KTZ, Kazmortransflot, the Maritime Administration and other relevant structures took part in the discussion.
The government of Montenegro has approved the sale of the fleet of the state shipping company Crnogorska Plovidba due to its inability to service a loan previously received from the Export-Import Bank of China for the construction of two Handysize bulk carriers. The company’s debt to the state exceeds 37 million euros.
From January to June 2025, 550.7 million tons of cargo were transported in Kazakhstan, which is 10.9% or 54.1 million tons more than in the same period last year. This was reported by the Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev.
The project involves the addition of a second module, intended to more than double the terminal’s transshipment capacity by 2028. The investment is jointly funded by DB, the German federal government, and the European Union, amounting to approximately EUR 148 million (converted from the originally stated 148 million EUR investment).
On July 17, 2025, a working meeting with the Trade and Economic Counselor of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium Aizhan Musakanova was held at the office of the Union of Transport Workers of Kazakhstan – Kazlogistics. During the meeting, the parties discussed the prospects for bilateral cooperation in the transport and logistics sectors, as well as the preparation of the upcoming Trade Mission of Belgian companies in Tashkent, Almaty and Astana, scheduled for November 2025. Kazlogistics CEO Kanat Almagambetov expressed interest in establishing direct contacts with Belgian companies specializing in transport infrastructure, multimodal transportation and digitalization of logistics.
Menzies Aviation has completed a strategic partnership with Airport Service Budapest, significantly expanding its presence at Budapest Airport (BUD). Following receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, Airport Service Budapest’s operations, including ground handling and cargo services, have been merged with Menzies Aviation Hungary and Menzies Aviation Cargo Hungary. All employees have been integrated into the new structure, and the SkyCourt Lounge is now part of Menzies’ premium service. Together, the companies will handle over 2,500 flights and over 12,000 tonnes of cargo per month at BUD.
On July 7, the first Chengdu-Europe Express departed from the European logistics hub of Duisburg towards China, opening a new high-frequency rail corridor between Europe and the dynamic metropolis of Chengdu. RTSB, which operates the train, provides efficient multimodal logistics from the terminal in Duisburg to the Chinese hinterland. The cargo includes electronics, pharmaceuticals, German cars and European delicacies, highlighting the growing reliance on rail transport for perishable and high-value goods. The service reinforces Duisburg’s role as a key hub on the modern Silk Road with reliable schedules and streamlined customs clearance.
At the International Conference on Reconstruction of Ukraine URC2025 in Rome, a financial agreement was signed between Ukraine and the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the amount of 134 million euros. The document was signed by Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba and EIB Vice President Teresa Czerwinska. The funds will be used to restore critical transport infrastructure – roads, bridges and logistics hubs in regions with high loads, providing access to medical, humanitarian and administrative services.
In the first half of 2025, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges increased container throughput by 3.7% to 6.91 million TEU, despite continued pressure on terminal capacity. Congestion was caused by irregular vessel calls, rerouting around the Red Sea, restructuring of container alliances and reduced schedule reliability, which increased the average container storage period to 7-8 days. To relieve terminal congestion, the port is implementing the Extra Container Capacity Antwerp project, which provides for the expansion of berths and the optimization of the use of current space.
