Europe

Belgium’s sovereign wealth fund SFPIM is providing rail operator Lineas with €61 million to help it weather the economic downturn in early 2025. The decision comes amid a general decline in volumes in the steel, chemical and automotive sectors in Europe. The funding will enable Lineas to remain resilient, continue to serve key industries and play an important role in the decarbonization of freight transport.

Over the past 12 months, the supply of container capacity on routes within Northern Europe has increased by 43,000 TEU, with Maersk accounting for 70% of this increase, Alphaliner reports. In July 2025, the total capacity of vessels in this market was 17% higher than a year earlier, due to an increase in both the number of vessels (+5%) and their average capacity (+22%).

In the first half of 2025 (January-June), Ukrainian seaports handled 96,298 TEU, the Association of International Freight Forwarders of Ukraine (AMEU) reports. Despite military actions, shelling and global logistical challenges, container turnover continues to grow.

In the first half of 2025, the port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 137.2 million tonnes of cargo, down 4.3% compared to the same period last year. The decline was mainly due to a drop in bulk and dry bulk volumes, especially coal, oil, liquefied natural gas and construction materials. At the same time, the container segment showed growth: transshipment increased by 3.6% in tonnage and 3.7% in TEU, reaching 77 million tonnes and 6.91 million TEU, respectively. RoRo volumes also increased by 1.4%.

In the first half of 2025, the Port of Rotterdam showed stable financial results against the backdrop of a 4.1% decline in total cargo throughput. At the same time, container throughput in TEU increased by 2.7%, despite a 1% decline in tonnage due to an increase in the share of empty export containers. Port charges increased by 5.4%, and EBITDA reached €295 million (+1.1%). Investments decreased by 17% to €136.1 million, mainly due to project delays and the absence of last year’s purchase of nitrogen emission rights. Nevertheless, the Port of Rotterdam Authority continues to actively support sustainable development, including through the CCS Porthos project and the launch of shore power for cruise ships.

According to S&P Global data for June 2025, the eurozone private sector is showing a fragile recovery: the composite PMI rose to 50.6, indicating moderate growth. Domestic services remain the main driver, while the manufacturing sector continues to come under pressure amid weak external demand.

The Rhenus Group has become the leader of the new Rhône Modal Shift consortium, which has been awarded a 25-year concession to manage France’s key river ports of Vienne-Sud and Port-lès-Valence. The project is supported by the French state and CNR and aims to develop multimodal transport in the Rhône Valley, including doubling the volume of freight by river and rail by 2032.

The Rozenburg Lock, through which around 20,000 ships pass each year, is preparing for a major renovation. The Port of Rotterdam Authority has signed a contract with Vialis, which will undertake the next stage of the modernisation of the complex, as well as long-term maintenance. The agreement was concluded between Berte Simons, Chief Operating Officer of the Port, and Max Mørke, Managing Director of Vialis.

German company Dako Worldwide Transport has become a new member of the international Project Cargo Network (PCN), expanding the organization’s presence in Western Europe. Dako has offices in Dusseldorf and Bremen and is part of the CF&S Group, which already represents PCN in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan and Georgia.

Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Andriy Bratus held a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austria to Ukraine Martin Robert Müller. The main topic was mutual assistance in the elections to the governing bodies of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which will be held in September 2025 in Dubai. Ukraine is applying for membership in the Administrative Council and the Postal Operations Council of the UPU, which will allow it to influence international rules in the field of postal logistics and strengthen international cooperation.