ITJ 15-16/2023
Dear readers,
Rarely has the region covering Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia received as much attention as in the last twelve months. Sanctions have shaken up established supply chains as much as the war in Ukraine. The impact on logistics networks in Eastern Europe as well as in Central Asia isn’t only enormous, but more lasting than was initially feared.
“Traffic flows have been re-organised and markets have adapted at lightning speed,” is how Nikolaus Kohler summed up developments. Militzer & Münch’s regional manager for the Middle East and Central Asia has decades of experience in the region.
Traditional cooperation is passé, according to Kohler. “It’s becoming clear how, regardless of the political dimensions, the rift between close geographic regions is deepening.”
There are glimmers of hope in this region as well, however. Ukraine’s TAS Group, for example, has invested in the Austrian railfreight start-up Transant, which specialises in developing modular railfreight wagons.
Logistics is flourishing to some extent in Central Europe too. Polish ports recently recorded record turnovers, the major Rail Baltica project is making good progress, and Lithuania’s Girteka Logistics is continuing with its pan-European expansion.
There’s a lot happening!
Enjoy your read!
Christian Doepgen
Editor-in-chief