Европа

Maersk continues to closely monitor the military conflict in the Middle East and is taking measures to ensure the safety of its employees, infrastructure, and customer cargo. Meanwhile, adverse weather conditions continue to impact operations at a number of European ports. In recent weeks, hubs in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean have experienced disruptions to schedules and terminal operations, leading to container accumulation and increased utilisation of warehouses.

Polish passenger operator PKP Intercity has announced plans to transform an existing railcar storage area in Białystok into a fully-fledged rolling stock maintenance and repair depot. The company expects to complete the project within 18 months of contract signing. Bids will be accepted until March 27, 2026.

Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) has launched a public consultation on the redefinition of medium- and long-distance Intercity rail services.

International logistics group AsstrA has reported serious disruptions to global supply chains amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and the closure of several air and sea routes. These restrictions have affected key transit corridors linking Europe, Asia, and North America. The company notes that the problems are already impacting air freight and capacity availability, particularly on routes through the region’s largest hubs. According to Karol Baranczuk, AsstrA’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Air Freight, the company is constantly monitoring the situation, assessing supply chain risks, and developing alternative routes to minimize the impact on customers.

Maersk Operations announced a temporary suspension of cargo shipping orders to several Middle East ports amid the deteriorating security situation in the region. The restrictions are effective immediately and apply to shipments to the UAE, Oman (excluding the port of Salalah), Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia (to the ports of Dammam and Jubail). The company clarified that exceptions will only be made for critical cargo, including food, medicine, and other essential goods.

Wabtec ended 2025 with a multi-year backlog of EUR 24.84bn (USD 27bn), up 23% year on year, providing long-term visibility across freight and passenger markets. Fourth-quarter sales rose 14.8% to EUR 2.73bn (USD 2.97bn), with growth in both the Freight and Transit segments.

The combined container throughput of Europe’s 15 largest ports reached 79.3 million TEU last year, an increase of 2.6% compared to the previous year, according to the PortsEurope analytical project. Nearly half of this volume comes from the region’s three leading ports – Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, and Hamburg – which together account for approximately 46% of the rating’s container throughput. Their combined throughput increased by 2.9%.

Austria and Slovakia have signed a joint declaration of intent to expand cross-border rail transport, with a focus on links between Vienna and Bratislava and wider international corridors.

International logistics operator Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has signed a global framework agreement with Exotec, a specialist in robotic warehouse automation systems. The partnership aims to implement automated solutions in Hellmann’s contract logistics segment and transform key supply chain processes by implementing a goods-to-person order processing model. The first joint project has already been launched in the healthcare sector, with further implementations planned for other industries and regions.

Europe’s largest seaports ended 2025 with mixed cargo throughput trends: growth in container traffic was accompanied by a decline in bulk cargo volumes. The Port of Rotterdam handled 428.4 million tonnes (-1.7%), while Antwerp-Bruges handled 266.5 million tonnes (-4.1%), while the Port of Hamburg increased its throughput to 114.6 million tonnes (+2.6%). The Port of Koper in Slovenia maintained a stable level of approximately 23 million tonnes. The container segment was the main driver of growth at individual ports, despite global trade volatility, tariff restrictions, and changes in the energy market.