At the European Economic Congress, stakeholders highlighted how rising cargo volumes are pushing Poland’s seaports to prioritise accessibility and multimodal integration, amid mounting pressure on road, rail, and border infrastructure.
The Port of Gdańsk Authority reported handling 80.4 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, marking a 4% year-on-year increase despite weather-related disruptions during winter. Meanwhile, the Baltic Hub achieved a record 2.7 million TEUs, reflecting a strong 23% annual growth. Momentum has continued into 2026, with first-quarter volumes rising a further 22%.
Katarzyna Szczycińska, Acting Director of Strategy and Development at the Port of Gdańsk, noted that such rapid expansion is rare among European terminals, but warned that sustaining this trajectory hinges on parallel investments in hinterland connectivity.
To support future demand, Baltic Hub is advancing expansion plans that include extended storage yards, new quay infrastructure, and a second seven-track railway siding with 750-metre-long tracks. Once fully developed, the terminal is expected to approach a capacity of nearly 7 million TEUs annually.
However, critical bottlenecks remain. The outer port currently depends on a single road bridge and a single railway bridge, despite handling approximately 80% of cargo traffic. Plans for additional road and rail links have entered the conceptual stage, with design work expected to begin within three years.
Further developments include discussions with PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe on a new rail connection, alongside plans for an Integrated Border Control Point that would process over 90% of Baltic Hub cargo.
Elsewhere, proposed deep-water container terminals in Gdynia and Świnoujście are progressing, with port authorities emphasising complementary—not competing—cargo profiles across Poland’s major ports. Rafał Zahorski of the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports underscored that market analyses show no overlap in their operational niches.
Collaboration across the sector is being strengthened through the Polish Ports partnership, formalised at the Polish Ports Congress. The initiative aims to align infrastructure development, streamline processes, and enhance joint market intelligence as Poland positions itself for the next phase of maritime growth.
