AGCT hits record rail volumes in October

Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT) at the Port of Rijeka reached a new record for rail volume in October, achieving a 47 percent rail share and a 30 percent year-to-date increase in rail volume over the previous year.

The numbers confirm the growing importance of AGCT as a gateway for Central and Southeast Europe, with 70 percent of current overall volume coming from outside Croatia. Hungary and Serbia remain key markets with growing volumes from other markets, including Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Asia/Europe volumes continue to grow following further development of Central Europe rail volumes from direct Asia-Med 2M product and Ocean Alliance service.

The recent upgrade of AGCT’s intermodal yard and strategy, combined with the support of Ocean Rail, The RCO Group, Adria Rail, Train Hungary, Enna Transport, HZ Cargo, Transagent Rail and other rail partners, have been instrumental in achieving the October results.

 The MSK 2M service remains the largest rail product at AGCT

During the second half of 2019, COSCO launched a new Land-Sea Express product with a direct vessel shuttle connecting Rijeka with its Mediterranean hub in Piraeus, which itself has been one of the fastest growing ports in Europe. Fully owned COSCO subsidiary Ocean Rail then developed a network of rail services directly connected to the sea product, offering shippers in Central Europe one of the fastest overall connections by which a container from most Chinese ports can reach its final destination in Budapest in less than 30 days via Rijeka.

For 2020, the Land-Sea Express proved as a viable alternative as well as one of the most advantageous means to move cargo. Compared to Northern Europe, using Rijeka shippers in the Czech Republic can cut transit by six days while shippers in Hungary, Slovakia and Austria can save seven days.

For 2020, the land sea express proved as a viable alternative as well as one of the most advantageous means to move cargo. Compared to Northern Europe, using Rijeka shippers in the Czech Republic can cut transit by six days while shippers in Hungary, Slovakia and Austria can save seven days.

COSCO / OceanRail innovative land sea express service for Central and Southeast Europe

Larger vessels in Asia-Med and Asia-Adriatic services have reduced slot costs similar to Northern Europe, which, combined with lower freight costs and faster transit times, have provided opportunities for shippers to consider Rijeka as their gateway of choice.  Given the market potential, AGCT believes Rijeka and North Adriatic can continue its growth with Rijeka attracting additional businesses from both from new and existing markets.

Emmanuel Papagiannakis (right), AGCT Chief Executive Officer, with Dionysis Boulantzas, Oceanrail Investment & Development Manager