A stopover on the new Silk Road
Intermodal links represent an effective measure to counter the fragility of the supply chain that has been observed again of late. Duisport is taking this path and fortifying its portfolio by buying the Trieste Interporto.
The Interporto di Trieste (INT) is a prime asset. Its three logistics terminals in and around the northern Adriatic port, very close to the Slovenian border, cover around 1 million m2 and offer about 130,000 m2 of warehouse buildings – and good rail links. Duisport has collaborated with the Trieste port authority since mid-2017; now the German operator wants to put the agreement on a new footing by taking over the INT. The plan is being implemented in partnership with Friulia, an Italian holding. The INT portfolio includes developing intermodal and logistics concepts and further compounds in the port of Trieste. The fact that Trieste, which enjoys a special status as a free port, is integrated into China’s ‘one belt, one road’ initiative and the maritime Silk Road represents another plus. Duisport CEO Erich Staake said the move represents the “constructive expansion of our international network.”
Staake was probably referring above all to the advanced railfreight service network operated to and from the port. The gateway provides regular rail links to seven countries and operated approximately 10,000 trains in 2019, with 33 pairs of trains a week connecting Trieste to Germany, where Duisport is headquartered.
Overall, the Interporto di Trieste will provide the Germans with a key Italian base in the capital of the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
