Europe

Starting in 2026, major regulatory changes will come into force in the European Union, directly affecting companies in the transport, freight forwarding, and logistics sectors involved in international trade. New requirements for import controls, export customs clearance, and CO₂ emissions accounting as part of the EU’s climate policy significantly complicate operations. Without timely technological and organizational preparation, businesses risk delays, increased costs, and loss of competitiveness.

Polish rail infrastructure operator Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK) has completed the acquisition of 100% of the shares of CARGOTOR from freight carrier PKP CARGO. The agreement is valued at 28.8 million Polish zlotys (approximately 6.8 million euros). The transaction was approved by the Polish Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) in January 2023.

Intermodal rail freight transport in Europe is entering a new phase marked by selective growth rather than network-wide expansion. While the market has stabilised after a sharp downturn in 2023, structural constraints continue to limit a broad-based recovery.

The Baltic Hub container terminal concluded 2025 with record transshipment figures, driven by large-scale investments and the expansion of its maritime services network. By the end of the year, the terminal handled 2,767,287 TEU, a 23% increase compared to the previous year and the highest result in the facility’s history. This growth was driven by the commissioning of the new Terminal T3, an increase in ocean services, and stable supply chain operations. In October 2025, Baltic Hub also set an operational record, handling 20,962 TEU during a single call by the vessel OOCL Japan.

Romania is entering the final stage of the acquisition of Danube Logistics, the operator of the Port of Giurgiulesti in the Republic of Moldova. The buyer is the state-owned Constanta Sea Ports Authority, which reports to the Romanian Ministry of Transport. Currently, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is the sole owner of Danube Logistics. The main objective of the transaction is to integrate the Port of Giurgiulesti into Romania’s logistics system, expand its capacity, and strengthen the region’s role in the Danube and Black Sea transport corridors.

EP Logistics International (EPLI) has started operating the Central European Rail Express (CEREx), a new international rail freight service linking Germany with Central Europe and onward connections to the Balkans.

CargoBeamer, one of Europe’s leading operators of intermodal semi-trailer rail transport, has launched a new service between Liège (Belgium) and Domodossola (Italy). Operations on this route began last week. The new service marks CargoBeamer’s first foray into the Belgian market, which plays a key role in European road and air logistics, and strengthens the company’s transalpine intermodal offerings following the closure of the Rolling Highway service between Germany and Italy at the end of 2025.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications has approved the use of €46.8 million from the European Regional Development Fund for the implementation of the multimodal terminal project in Ruse. The total project cost is estimated at approximately €56.5 million. Construction is planned on the site of a former railway marshalling yard, near the area where a third bridge across the Danube is expected to be built, further strengthening the region’s transport role.

Shipping company CLdN announced the launch of a new weekly LoLo container service between the Rotterdam Distriport terminal and the port of Leixões (Porto), Portugal. This decision is in response to growing customer demand and aims to expand the company’s presence on the Atlantic route. The new service will complement the existing two weekly round-trip RoRo services between Rotterdam/Zeebrugge and Leixões.

According to the Vehicles on European Roads report, the EU road freight market continues to grow quantitatively, but does not meet Brussels’ climate and regulatory targets. By the end of 2024, there were 6.2 million medium and heavy trucks on EU roads, an increase of 0.9% compared to the previous year. Almost half of the total fleet is concentrated in Italy, Germany, and Poland, making these countries key for European road transport. However, the main issue remains not the number of vehicles, but their age and composition.