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The European rail industry association UNIFE stated that the lack of stable investment and a harmonized regulatory framework threatens the global competitiveness of European rail equipment manufacturers and suppliers, and calls into question the achievement of decarbonization goals. According to the association, annual investments of €46 billion are needed to transition to eco-friendly rolling stock and maintain the industry’s position.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges operated in 2025 amid geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and widespread industrial action. The war in Ukraine, trade conflicts between the US, Europe, and China, congestion at container terminals, and approximately 25 days of strikes put pressure on the entire logistics chain. At the end of the year, seaborne cargo throughput amounted to 266.5 million tonnes, a 4.1% decrease from 2024, but still comparable to previous years. Losses due to strikes are estimated at 2.4 million tonnes, or approximately 1% of annual turnover.

In the first 12 months of 2025, 161.3 million tons of freight were transported by rail in Ukraine, a decrease of 13.6 million tons, or 7.8%, compared to 2024. Domestic shipments accounted for almost half of this volume – 74.5 million tons, or 46.2% of the total. Exports amounted to 74 million tons (45.9%), imports – 12.3 million tons (7.6%), and transit shipments remained minimal, reaching 0.5 million tons.

A working meeting was held in Izmail to discuss the current situation in the Danube region and Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, as well as overcoming the logistical challenges posed by Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The discussion was attended by Andriy Kashuba, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine; Alain Baron, a representative of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE); and representatives of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority, Izmail Commercial Seaport, Ukrzaliznytsia, and the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company.

The City of Rotterdam and the Port of Rotterdam Authority have approved the Port Vision 2050 strategy, which aims to make the port the most competitive, sustainable, and reliable port in Europe by mid-century. The document was developed jointly with the Province of South Holland, the Dutch central government, and the port’s business community, as well as with the participation of over 100 companies, government agencies, research organizations, regional residents, and young people. The Rotterdam City Council officially endorsed Port Vision 2050 on December 18, 2025.

ÖBB has reopened the section between Hall in Tirol and Innsbruck main station following the completion of the new Rauchmühl Bridge. Passenger and freight services resumed early Friday morning after the structure passed a load test using two heavy freight locomotives with a combined weight of more than 160 tonnes.

According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, freight transportation volume in the country in 2025 amounted to 322.2 million tons, a 9% decrease compared to 2024. Rail transport accounted for 161.3 million tons (-7.8%), road transport accounted for 125.2 million tons (-2.8%), and other modes of transport accounted for the remainder.

The Port of Gdansk closed 2025 with record cargo handling figures, handling 80.4 million tonnes, a 4% increase compared to 2024. The total number of vessels reached 4,394, including 3,650 commercial, and the average gross tonnage increased by 3.8%, confirming the port’s growing role in servicing large vessels and the efficient use of its deepwater infrastructure. Oil products retained their leading position in cargo turnover, handling 39.6 million tonnes (up 0.4%), including a record 37.4 million tonnes of crude oil at the Naftoport terminal.

Die Güterbahnen, Germany’s national association of freight rail carriers, has sharply criticized a potential 37% increase in rail infrastructure fees by the end of this year. According to the association’s calculations, this will result in additional costs for the industry of €381 million, with companies generating a combined annual turnover of approximately €7 billion. The tariff revision was initiated by the country’s rail infrastructure operator, DB InfraGO.

The International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport (UIRR) has pointed to terminal capacity as a critical bottleneck for expanding rail-based intermodal freight in Europe. The association’s position is based on a recent European Commission study on modal shift potential and on the new TEN-T Regulation, which introduces binding requirements for multimodal freight terminals.