Industrial production in the eurozone unexpectedly fell by 1.5% in January compared to the previous month, while analysts had expected growth of 0.6%. This data was released by the statistical office Eurostat. Declines were recorded in most of the bloc’s largest economies, including Germany, Italy, and Spain. Year-on-year, output fell by 1.2%, while growth of 1.4% had been forecast.
During a working visit to China, Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of the Board of Kazakhstan Railways (Kazakhstan Temir Zholy), held talks with the management of China Railway Container Transport (CRCT). The meeting focused on strengthening transport and logistics cooperation and developing a strategic partnership between the railway administrations of Kazakhstan and China.
Freight transport operator TX Logistik, part of the Mercitalia group of Italian railways (FS Group), together with the Finnish logistics company Nurminen Logistics, has launched a regular train service between the terminals of Castelguelfo in the province of Parma (Italy) and Frevi in the Örebro district (Sweden). The new route is part of FS Group’s expansion strategy to develop the north-south corridor of the European freight transport system.
China-Europe Railway Express operated 3,501 freight trains in the first two months of 2026, carrying 352,000 TEU, according to China State Railway Group.
German carrier Hamburg MACS Maritime Carrier Shipping GmbH & Co. announced the expansion of its multi-purpose liner service to include calls at the Port of Luanda. The company’s vessels will now make direct calls to the Angolan capital every two weeks immediately after loading in European ports, providing some of the fastest transit times on the market. Transit times from Hamburg are 23-24 days, from Antwerp 18-19 days, and from Leixões 13-14 days.
Intermodal operator METRANS continues to expand its network into Southeastern Europe by acquiring a 50% stake in the AFLUENT Arad South terminal in western Romania. This is the company’s first intermodal terminal in the country and an important step in strengthening METRANS’s position in the region. The terminal occupies an area of approximately 3.5 hectares, expandable to 82 hectares, and provides simultaneous storage capacity of up to 750 TEUs.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov presented an initiative to create an integrated platform for coordinating EAEU freight flows based on artificial intelligence at an expanded meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. He stated that the geographic location of the union’s countries offers significant advantages for transit and logistics, but to fully realize this potential, infrastructure modernization and the implementation of modern transportation management systems are necessary.
DB Cargo announced the launch of one of the largest transformations in its history. The reorganization concept received a positive assessment from independent experts and was approved by the European Commission and the Management Board and Supervisory Board of Deutsche Bahn AG in March. This decision lays the foundation for comprehensive changes aimed at achieving economic sustainability and strengthening the company’s position in the European rail freight market.
Japan Airlines and Cargolux Airlines announced a new partnership, effective April 1, 2026. The collaboration will cover the Narita-Luxembourg-Narita and Narita-Chicago-Narita cargo routes and aims to strengthen air cargo connections between Asia, Europe, and North America. Under the agreement, the airlines will combine their networks and offer customers expanded cargo transportation options.
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG recorded growth in key performance indicators for the 2025 financial year, despite economic challenges, geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty in US trade policy. Group revenue increased by 9.9% to €1.76 billion, while operating profit (EBIT) increased by 19.5% to €160.5 million. Container throughput reached 6.295 million TEU (up 5.4%), while intermodal throughput reached 1.982 million TEU (up 10.9%). Net profit, however, decreased to €9.8 million due to one-time tax effects.
