For the first time ever: 1 million TEU in cargo handling

The Port of Gdynia ended 2025 with a historic record in container handling – for the first time in its history, it exceeded the threshold of 1 million TEU, recording a 5.27 per cent increase year-on-year. At the same time, the port handled a total of 25.7 million tonnes of cargo and recorded growth of over 18 per cent in the ro-ro segment, which was the result of the development of connection networks and changes in global shipping services. At the same time, the company forecasts a 2.5 per cent increase in net profit compared to the previous year, confirming its stable financial situation.

The record level of container handling was achieved thanks to, among other things, the launch of new services and changes in global connection networks. Ships from the new Gemini Cooperation alliance call at the Port of Gdynia, and the ONE Polish Shuttle (PLS) service has been operating since February. In December, the Baltic Container Terminal Gdynia also launched a new MSC short sea service, providing direct connections to the markets of the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal.

It is worth noting that the record was achieved despite the ongoing renovation of the Helskie Quay, which is of key importance for container ship operations, confirming the port’s high operational efficiency during the investment.

Another important factor supporting growth in the container segment was the commissioning of Turntable No. 2, whose widening and deepening enabled it to handle the largest container ships operating in the Baltic Sea, with a length of up to 400 metres.

At the same time, the Port of Gdynia recorded significant growth in the general cargo segment, particularly ro-ro, where cargo handling increased by over 18%. This growth was directly related to the development of the network of connections. In November, the shipowner Lakeway Link launched a second vessel on the Gdynia–Södertälje line, and in June 2025, Finnlines introduced a regular connection between Gdynia and Belgium, the United Kingdom, Spain and Finland.

In 2025, the Port of Gdynia handled a total of 25.7 million tonnes of cargo, which represents a 4.4 per cent decrease compared to 2024. This change was, among other things, the result of lower volumes in the coal and coke segment, which is part of a broader trend observed in ports related to decarbonisation and the transformation of the energy market. At the same time, changes in volumes in individual cargo groups were largely due to market and geopolitical conditions, rather than infrastructure or operational constraints at the port.

The decline in coal and coke handling was related to the fading of crisis factors, which significantly increased demand for energy raw materials in Poland in 2022–2023. Stabilisation in the energy market and the ongoing energy transition translated into a reduction in demand for coal, which was reflected in the results of seaports throughout the country.

In the grain segment, the declines were a result of the market situation. Low global prices for wheat and other grains, also visible in stock market quotations, limited the profitability of exports for Polish producers. As a result, some of the goods remained in the country, awaiting improved sales conditions. In addition, after the reopening of Black Sea ports, Ukraine began to route grain exports through its own terminals, which limited transit through Polish ports. The results were also affected by the high cargo handling base from 2022–2023.

The ‘other bulk’ group, which includes fertilisers, aggregates, chemical products and selected foodstuffs, recorded an increase. Due to the heterogeneous nature of this group, it is difficult to identify a single dominant factor, but the results confirm the continuing demand for diverse bulk cargo handled by the port.

“The Port of Gdynia operates in dynamically changing market conditions and is able to respond flexibly to demand trends. We focus on segments of growing importance: general cargo, containers and ro-ro transport, while maintaining our bulk cargo handling capacity,” emphasises Piotr Gorzeński, President of the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A.

In parallel with the above operating results, the Port of Gdynia maintains a stable financial situation. “The projected net profit for 2025 will amount to PLN 142 million, 2.5 per cent more than in the previous year. This is a better result than we had anticipated,”  informs Katarzyna Gruszecka-Spychała, Vice-President of the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A.