Polish operator Laude planning new terminal in Ukraine

Polish rail operator Laude Smart Intermodal seems on track to surpass last year’s freight volumes of its Ukrainian operations, with January-September figures approaching total 2023 numbers. Now, the company is looking to build a new terminal in Ukraine.

“Our strategy includes investments in our own rail terminal in Ukraine”, a company representative told Polish media. “We are considering several locations potentially advantageous in terms of development and diversification of transportation. This is important because we want to further strengthen our presence in both sea forwarding and road transportation, which is an important addition to our intermodal services in Poland and Germany.”

Laude Smart Intermodal transports containers from Ukraine, as well as pallet loads, steel products, fertilisers and oil. It also carries steel and grain to the ports in the Odesa region. The company now focuses on the transportation of goods from Ukraine to Germany, the Netherlands and Romania. “We are cooperating with our Ukrainian partners to integrate Ukraine with European logistics chains”, a company representative said.

Growing business

Laude’s Ukrainian business is expanding. In 2023, it carried 89,3 thousand TEU through Ukraine. “This year, we are assuming transport at a similar or slightly higher level, in the three quarters of this year we have already transported over 80 thousand TEU”, according to the company.