Европа

Following the December peak in deliveries, the transport and logistics industry is entering a second, equally intense phase of the season – the period of mass returns. According to the Globkurier logistics platform, the volume of returned shipments in January is 25-30% higher than the monthly average. Moreover, over the past three years, the number of shipments classified as “return to sender” has increased by approximately 140%, indicating a stable structural trend associated with the growth of e-commerce.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, together with infrastructure operator Infrabel, is implementing a phased rail strategy aimed at developing sustainable port logistics. Electrification of the port’s rail network remains a key priority. In 2025, electrification of the line toward Oorderen was completed, and work on Line 11, leading to Combinant and BASF production facilities, is planned for 2026. This should increase capacity and reduce the carbon footprint of rail transport within the port.

Nova Marine Carriers Group has completed a deal to acquire full control of VCK Port Logistics and the Waterland terminal in the Port of Amsterdam, as part of an agreement with partners Aug Bolten Wm Miller’s Nachfolger and Ership Grupo. According to Nova Marine Carriers, the deal allowed the consortium to consolidate management of a strategic asset, considered the only terminal in Europe capable of handling ships in a fully enclosed environment, 24 hours a day, regardless of weather conditions.

Rail freight in North America continues to play a central role in supply chains, but the operating environment is becoming more demanding. According to the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) Rail Trends 2025 report, freight traffic measured in revenue tonne-kilometres grew year on year, yet structural pressures are increasingly visible.

In 2025, Ukrzaliznytsia’s container freight volumes totaled 241,582 TEU, a 6% decrease compared to 2024, according to Valeriy Tkachev, Deputy Director of the company’s Commercial Department. He also noted that over the past three months, the gap has gradually narrowed compared to last year’s figures, indicating a partial recovery.

LTG Infra, a member of LTG Group, has signed contracts to acquire public land near the Panevėžys railway hub and regional stations, as well as along the Rail Baltica section between Kaunas and the Lithuanian-Latvian border. Following tenders, the contractors were Tyrens Lietuva and a consortium consisting of Atamis (the lead partner) and Projects House, which will be responsible for implementing the land acquisition procedures.

CargoBeamer, a leading operator of intermodal rail transport for semi-trailers, launched a new regular service between Liège (Belgium) and Domodossola (Italy). The first trains departed on this route last week. The launch of the line marks CargoBeamer’s first foray into the Belgian market, an important logistics hub with a well-developed road and air infrastructure, and strengthens the company’s presence on the trans-Alpine route, following the discontinuation of the Rolling Highway service between Germany and Italy at the end of 2025.

The Port of Poti in Georgia closed 2025 with a record container throughput of 636,466 TEU, up 17% from 2024, according to APM Terminals Poti. The previous year, the port handled 545,297 TEU. This growth was accompanied by an increase in vessel calls: in 2025, the port received 362 container ships compared to 313 the year before, a 16% increase. APM Terminals Poti called this result unprecedented for the Black Sea port infrastructure.

GTS General Transport Service has started an intermodal rail connection between Padua in north-east Italy and Zeebrugge in Belgium, according to the company.

The consultation, is carried out every two years and gathers feedback from passenger and freight users on the quality and conditions of rail services. In this round, the CNMC sent questionnaires to 42 companies and user organisations and received 37 responses. Four working meetings were also held at the authority’s headquarters.