Europe

During the World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition 2026 in Rotterdam, a new partnership – LAUNCH2 – was officially launched with the aim of accelerating the development of hydrogen technologies in the region. This initiative brings together the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the Municipality of Rotterdam, the Municipality of Schiedam, the Province of South Holland, InnovationQuarter, TU Delft, TNO, and Smart Delta Drechtsteden. The partnership was established to foster a more coordinated development of regional hydrogen value chains and to strengthen Rotterdam’s position as one of Europe’s key hydrogen hubs.

The Canadian technology company Geotab has released a study titled “The Cost of Standing Still” – part of its European Freight Efficiency Index – in which it analyzed the efficiency of freight transport in European capital cities. Berlin topped the rankings, scoring 61 out of 100 points thanks to its steady traffic flow and well-developed urban infrastructure. Madrid posted the worst result, scoring just 25 points – representing a 144% efficiency gap between the two cities.

The Swiss railway company SBB is continuing to reform its single-wagon transport system (EWLV) and will implement a new operating model starting in December 2026. The primary objective of this change is to increase train utilization, reduce costs, and ensure the long-term economic sustainability of rail freight transport. This decision is driven by requirements from the Swiss federal authorities, mandating that freight operations become self-sustaining by 2033.

AD Ports Group has agreed to acquire 100% of the core business of Germany-based MBS Logistics for AED 300 million, equivalent to approximately $81.7 million. The transaction excludes the company’s joint ventures and is expected to close in the second half of 2026, following approval from European regulatory authorities. Through this acquisition, AD Ports aims to strengthen its market presence in Germany and Central Europe.

Polish operator Loconi Intermodal will launch a regular intermodal rail service between the Baltic Hub terminal in Gdańsk and the Paskov terminal in Ostrava on 22 May.

Effective May 21, 2026, WEC Lines is launching a new weekly rail service in Spain, connecting Agoncillo and Zaragoza with Barcelona. This new route forms part of the company’s intermodal network and strengthens its link with the ESC maritime service, which serves the Canary Islands.

Region Skåne and Skånetrafiken have awarded VR Sverige a new contract to operate the Pågatågen regional rail services in southern Sweden.

The Swiss logistics company Galliker has officially commissioned its new facility, Logistics Center 2, located in the town of Sant’Antonino in the canton of Ticino. The facility’s grand opening took place on May 13, 2026, attended by representatives of regional authorities, including Fabio Regazzi, a member of the Cantonal Council of Ticino. This new complex represents the company’s response to the growing demand for modern logistics space in southern Switzerland, enabling it to expand its warehousing capacity by more than 13,000 square meters.

The Chinese technology and logistics company JD.com has released its financial results for the first quarter of 2026, reporting a 4.9% year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching 315.7 billion yuan. Meanwhile, the company’s net profit declined to 5.1 billion yuan – down from 10.9 billion yuan a year earlier – amidst substantial investments in new business lines, logistics infrastructure development, and digital technologies. The company noted an increase in the number of active users and higher purchase frequency, while the profitability of the JD Retail division reached record levels, with its operating margin rising to 5.6%.

The Tender Commission has officially launched the competitive dialogue phase as part of the concession tender for the transfer of management rights for the first universal and container terminals at the Port of Chornomorsk. At this stage, potential investors have gained access to the basic terms of the concession, as well as technical and financial information regarding the project; they have also begun analyzing the assets and preparing their own proposals. All tender participants have already signed Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).