Hungarian Maritime Container Traffic Up in 2025

Hungarian maritime container traffic grew by more than 17% year-on-year in 2025 in terms of container numbers, reaching 426,484 units (TEU); The growth was mainly driven by imports, according to the Hungarian Association of Logistics Service Centers (MLSZKSZ) in a statement to MTI.

They pointed out that deliveries related to factory construction, the gradual increase in consumer spending, and the fact that maritime transport remained a favorable alternative to other routes overall played an important role in the upturn in traffic.

Hungarian maritime container traffic remained fundamentally import-driven in 2025, with an average annual import/export ratio of 70/30. The majority of the growth was due to the volume of incoming goods.

It was also pointed out that, in addition to growth, congestion at several large ports, as well as rail delays and cancellations, remained a problem throughout 2025. In addition, track works and track closures often slowed down transport. However, the gradual commissioning of a new terminal in RijekaCroatia was seen as a positive development, although its longer-term impact will largely depend on the pace of development of the associated rail infrastructure.

According to the MLSZKSZ analysis, although Hungarian maritime container freight traffic grew in volume in 2025, the market remains highly sensitive to operational disruptions and lasting shifts in the import-export ratio. The most important task for the coming period is to strengthen a more predictable transport environment, in particular by stabilizing rail performance and developing infrastructure.

The announcement quoted Koppány Ajtony Bíró, secretary general of the MLSZKSZ, who said that the growth in 2025 shows that Hungary's role in international freight traffic is strengthening, but there is still a lot of uncertainty in day-to-day operations. The goal is to be able to handle the growing volume of goods in an increasingly predictable and efficient manner.

The Hungarian Association of Logistics Service Centers is one of the leading organizations in the domestic logistics and transport industry, representing nearly 90% of Hungarian logistics service centers. Its membership consists of 91 organizations.