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A consortium comprising Spanish Ership, German shipping line Aug. Bolten, and Swiss Nova Marine acquired a stake in VCK Port Logistics, acquiring shares from VCK Group. VCK Group announced the deal on January 9. The new partnership also includes Verenigd Cargadoorskantoor and Waterland Terminal. All companies will operate under the management of the Dutch holding company Maja Stuwadoorsgroep, in which Ership and Aug. Bolten/Nova Marine already acquired stakes in February 2025.

By the end of 2025, Ukrainian seaports had fulfilled over 95% of their cargo transshipment plan, handling 82.2 million tons. This was announced by Oleksiy Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister of Communities and Territories Development, who emphasized the port industry’s resilience amid the ongoing war.

Starting in 2026, road haulers in several European countries will face increased road tolls, an expanded toll network, and a transition to new toll collection models. These changes will affect Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Romania, and Poland, requiring transport companies to review tariffs, routes, and contract profitability. In many countries, CO₂ emissions will be a key factor in toll calculations, reflecting the pan-European commitment to decarbonizing transport.

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.