
Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI)'s Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT) in Rijeka, Croatia hit over 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) on December 23, 2020, setting a new record annual terminal volume.
The 300,000th TEU was an export container, which arrived by train on a regular rail service from Central Europe.
It was seamlessly loaded to a vessel deployed on one of the direct ocean services connecting North Adriatic to the Far East.
Following a 20 percent growth in 2019, AGCT grew 12 per cent in 2020 year to date, driven by a 30 percent increase in rail volumes.
After developing a new intermodal yard, including the commissioning of two RMGs and new shunting tunnel, the terminal significantly boosted its rail capacity.
"Traditionally, we focus on the local market with select services to neighboring countries," noted Emmanuel Papagiannakis, AGCT CEO.
"A reliable intermodal product led to new rail services to Central Europe and East Europe, which increased options for shippers, leading to higher volumes," he explained.
With 70 percent of volume now coming from outside the Croatian market and from East and Central Europe, the AGCT CEO said they will continue developing the port and its intermodal offering.
ICTSI forged a 30-year strategic partnership with Luka Rijeka D.D. for the operation, management, and development of AGCT at the Port of Rijeka, Croatia’s main seaport, in 2011.
The partnership enters its first decade this year.
ICTSI’s portfolio of terminals and projects are located in developed and emerging market economies in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, and Europe, the Middle East and Africa.