TRIESTE – In the first quarter of 2025, cargo traffic at the Croatian Port of Rijeka grew by 13% in tonnage compared to the same period last year.
Container volumes saw a sharp increase, with 108,617 TEUs handled by the Adriatic Gate Container Terminal, marking a 33% rise over Q1 2024. In recent days, the terminal welcomed Hapag Lloyd’s *Al Nasriyah*, the longest container ship ever to berth there, with an overall length of 368.5 meters. The vessel marked the German shipping company’s first call under the Gemini cooperation with Maersk.
Conventional cargo volumes declined, representing 10% of Luka Rijeka’s throughput by weight, with a 16% drop. The steepest fall was recorded in metal products (steel), while timber traffic also fell by 17%, due to a brief operational halt at the Bakar terminal for crane replacement.
Bulk cargo—accounting for 15% of total volumes handled by the Group—was also down 10% compared to Q1 2024, mainly due to reduced grain and coal traffic.
On the financial side, Luka Rijeka reported a 3% drop in revenue but a 28% increase in profits for the first quarter of 2025.
Meanwhile, the expansion of the Škrljevo container depot continues (a €5.7 million investment launched in Q3 2024). The project includes enlarging the storage area and developing a new operational zone with nine new yards covering 66,615 square meters, along with internal roads, outdoor lighting, and new power connections. The upgrade aims to boost container handling and storage capacity for empty units and opens up the possibility of handling full containers—currently offered on a limited scale.
