Hungary Sea Container Traffic Climbs 10% in Q2

Loaded sea container traffic in Hungary rose 10% year-on-year to 123,258 TEU in the second quarter, the Association of Hungarian Logistics Service Centers (MLSZKSZ) said.

Over the past year, imports rose by 12.3% and exports by 7.2%, with imports accounting for more than 70% of total trade. The volume of incoming goods continued to be driven primarily by raw materials needed for factory construction, but household consumption and e-commerce also significantly boosted demand, the report stated.

According to the statement, the data indicate a strong market, but operational risks are becoming increasingly severe, and the international environment is unfavorable. Conflicts in the Middle East are hindering maritime transport, port congestion is undermining the predictability of schedules, and tight shipping capacity is keeping freight rates high. Furthermore, European exporters’ opportunities are limited by the fact that they often do not have enough containers at their disposal. Domestic growth may be hampered primarily by the unreliability of rail systems; therefore, the MLSZKSZ sees the solution in infrastructure development and strengthening cooperation at the European level.

In the current situation, rail is increasingly losing the advantage on which intermodal transport could be built; therefore, as a first step, the main freight routes must be made reliable by eliminating critical track defects and permanent speed restrictions. Domestically, one of the most urgent infrastructure projects is the reconstruction of the Gubacsi railway bridge, as this will ensure the connection of the Csepel Free Port, as well as the Mahart and Metrans terminals, to the national rail network.

They also see a need to develop relief routes and rural terminals, as a favorable geographic location alone is not enough for Hungary to maintain its leading regional role as a Central European collection and distribution hub. A network consisting of multiple hubs should be built around Budapest, where the terminals serve traffic in a mutually reinforcing manner.