Europe

The Port of Rotterdam is seeing significant changes in the structure of global container trade by the end of 2025. According to data from the Port Authority and analysis presented in the Container Market Outlook 2026 report, container imports continue to grow, while exports remain weak, exacerbating the imbalance in the shipping system. Despite growing geopolitical and logistical challenges, Rotterdam maintains its status as Europe’s largest container hub. As Frank van der Laan, Senior Advisor for Business Analytics at the Port Authority, noted, these changes are already impacting cargo volumes, the structure of trade flows, and the functioning of the port system.

DP World has begun handling cargo on a new intermodal rail route connecting the company’s terminal in Novi Sad with its logistics hub in Herne, located in the Rhine-Ruhr industrial region. The service, operated by Austrian transport company LKW Walter, offers three departures per week. The journey time is approximately 45 hours, making it faster than traditional long-distance road transport and reducing carbon emissions by up to 80%. The Novi Sad terminal is the first in Serbia to offer regular intermodal rail service to Western Europe.

FHP Intermodal (CFI) will launch a twice-weekly intermodal rail service linking northern Italy with Bari and Catania from 9 March 2026.

On July 1, 2026, changes to road toll legislation in the Netherlands will come into effect: a new distance-based toll system will be introduced for trucks over 3.5 tonnes. This reform will abandon the current Eurovignette system and align with the pan-European trend toward models that take into account road usage, emissions, and the sustainability of transport infrastructure.

Representatives of Hamburg’s port and maritime industry, as part of an official delegation from the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, visited India, where they held a series of meetings with partners in Chennai, Mumbai, and New Delhi. The main goal of the visit was to develop dialogue and expand cooperation in port logistics and maritime transport. The delegation was led by Dr. Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Innovation in Hamburg. Also participating were Jens Meyer, CEO of the Hamburg Port Authority and President of the International Association of Ports and Harbors; Hendrik Meyn, Head of Port of Hamburg Marketing; and representatives of the maritime industry.

The Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission approved a roadmap for the implementation of the Concept for the Development of Interoperability of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) among EAEU Member States. The document defines a set of measures aimed at coordinating the work of national ITS and implementing best practices for their creation and development.

On July 1, 2026, changes to road toll legislation in the Netherlands will come into force, introducing a distance-based toll for trucks over 3.5 tonnes. The new system will replace the current Eurovignette mechanism and is part of a pan-European trend toward tariffs that take into account actual road use, emissions, and the sustainability of transport infrastructure.

DHL Supply Chain, the contract logistics arm of the DHL Group, is expanding its capacity in the Rhineland region. The company is building a new carbon-neutral logistics center in the Wolbersacker Industrial Park in Rheinbach. The approximately 26,600 square meter complex will include modern warehousing and transhipment facilities, and is scheduled to open in August 2026.

Shipping company Ellerman City Liners announced the relaunch of its iPEX 2 service with an updated rotation between the Port of Gdynia – Port of Hull – Gdynia. This updated route is designed to strengthen direct short-sea connections between Poland and the UK, as well as offer more flexible freight solutions across Europe. The service offers fast transhipment options to Portugal, expanding multimodal logistics options for customers.

Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer Sinotruk has launched truck production at its Steyr Automotive facility in Steyr, Austria. The project is being implemented under a contract manufacturing agreement, the launch of which was announced on March 3. The first truck was assembled on the day of the launch. The Austrian plant plans to manufacture various truck models – both diesel and fully electric – targeted for markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.