Germany and Latvia enhance green port logistics

Germany and Latvia have fortified their collaborative efforts in the transport and logistics sectors, focusing on green initiatives.

The development emerged from the Latvian-German Port Forum held in Riga on July 11, 2024. Organised by Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM), Lübecker Hafen-Gesellschaft (LHG), and the Latvian Ministry of Transport, the forum aimed to reorient the Latvian logistics sector by reducing reliance on Russian freight and enhancing environmental sustainability.

Marina Basso Michael, Regional Director Europe at HHM, emphasised the historical significance and modern necessity of this cooperation. ‘It is clear that partners, linked since the Hanseatic League, must continue to work closely to make Europe modern, resilient, and prosperous,’ she stated. The forum provided an opportunity for experts to exchange views on digitalisation, environmental protection, hinterland transport, and energy logistics.

Central to the forum’s discussions was the Memorandum of Cooperation signed by the Liepāja Special Economic Zone Authority, LHG, and the Hanseatic City of Lübeck. This agreement aims to establish a ‘Green Shipping Corridor’ between Lübeck and Latvia, promoting ecologically sustainable transport. The corridor will involve various projects designed to reduce emissions and increase efficiency in maritime logistics. Additionally, the ‘Blue Supply Chains’ project, funded by the EU and managed by Hafen Hamburg Marketing, includes Latvian companies and seeks to further integrate eco-friendly practices into the logistics sector.

The ‘Rail Baltica’ project was also highlighted as a significant future initiative. Set to integrate the Baltic states into the European railway system by 2030, this project will enable cross-border rail services and reduce the environmental impact of freight transport. Rail Baltica represents a critical step toward greener logistics, providing a sustainable alternative to road transport and linking ports with inland infrastructure.

The forum in Riga was attended by nearly 30 representatives from Hamburg and Lübeck, including Pia Steinrücke, Senator for Economic and Social Affairs of Lübeck, and Niels Wiecker, Head of the Department of Ports and Logistics of Hamburg. Their goal was to further strengthen the longstanding partnership between the two regions’ port and logistics sectors, a relationship dating back to the Hanseatic League.

Senator Pia Steinrücke expressed optimism about the future of Latvian-German cooperation. “We need to move even closer together and send a strong signal to strengthen the partnership with Latvia,” she stated. The forum demonstrated the mutual interest in expanding cooperation and provided a platform for discussing new business opportunities arising from the dynamic German-Latvian trade partnership.

Latvian Minister of Transport Kaspars Briškens outlined five priorities for reorienting Latvia’s transport sector away from Russian freight. These include developing joint cargo flows and investments, increasing exports, expanding domestic transport, promoting industrial development in ports, accelerating renewable energy projects, and establishing new military mobility on NATO’s eastern flank.

The forum showcased the progress in Latvian-German port relations. In 2023, foreign trade between the two countries reached 1.71 million tonnes, with container traffic amounting to approximately 63,000 TEUs. Weekly ferry departures between Lübeck and Liepaja have doubled since 2016, reflecting Latvia’s growing importance as a logistics hub in the Baltic Sea. Logistics accounts for about ten percent of Latvia’s economic output, highlighting its strategic significance.

LHG Managing Director Sebastian Jürgens noted the rapid development of traffic with Latvia, fuelled by the collapse of trade with Russia. ‘Logistics accounts for around ten percent of Latvia’s total economic output; in the EU as a whole, this figure is only around five percent,’ Jürgens explained.

The ongoing dialogue between Latvian and German stakeholders, supported by mutual visits and EU-funded projects, will likely continue to drive the green transformation of the logistics sector in the Baltic Sea. Both countries aim to build a resilient European logistics network by prioritising sustainable practices and integrating advanced technologies.