Poland’s Baltic Ambitions Could Give Czechia Its Long-Sought Gateway to the Sea

Poland wants to become one of Europe’s leading intermodal logistics hubs, and its expanding port network could reshape freight flows across Central Europe.

According to industry representatives speaking at the Intermodal in Poland 2026 Congress, the development of Polish ports has the potential not only to strengthen Poland’s position in European logistics but also to provide landlocked countries such as Czechia and Slovakia with more direct access to Baltic maritime routes.

The future of Poland’s maritime transport sector was one of the key topics discussed during this year’s Intermodal in Poland Congress. Industry leaders argued that continued investment in ports, rail infrastructure and intermodal terminals could significantly alter the competitive landscape of European freight transport over the coming decade.

Can Gdańsk Challenge Hamburg and Rotterdam?

Mirka Kędra, CEO of logistics company TIRSPED, offered a realistic assessment of current market dynamics. According to her, the company still relies primarily on the major Western European gateways of Hamburg and Rotterdam.

"Hamburg currently accounts for around 70% of our volumes, while most of the remaining traffic goes through Rotterdam. Cargo does not necessarily have to move via Gdańsk," she explained during the panel discussion.

At the same time, Kędra expressed confidence in the long-term development of Poland’s intermodal sector, particularly the expansion of the Port of Szczecin. "The investment plans look promising. I am definitely in favour of them," she said.

If these projects succeed, a growing share of cargo currently handled by Western European ports could gradually shift towards Poland. Such a development would not only strengthen Polish logistics but could also provide Czechia with more efficient and potentially lower-cost access to maritime transport.

Rail Freight Struggles with a Trust Deficit

Despite growing enthusiasm surrounding intermodal transport, Kędra pointed out one of the sector’s biggest challenges: reliability. According to her, rail freight has suffered from repeated disruptions, delays, and supply chain problems in recent years. "We have experienced numerous delays and disruptions, while containers often need to be moved immediately," she said.

These operational difficulties, she argued, have damaged confidence among customers and logistics providers. "Trust is missing. And without trust, there is no cooperation. Once trust is lost, it is very difficult to rebuild," Kędra noted.

As a result, road transport continues to maintain a significant advantage in terms of speed and scheduling flexibility, particularly for time-sensitive shipments.

Poland Still Underuses Its Maritime Potential

Rafał Zahorski from the Ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście Authority presented an ambitious vision for the future development of Poland’s port sector and its role within European logistics chains. "When I look at our colleagues in Gdańsk and Gdynia, it is clear that the Polish market is growing," Zahorski told participants.

However, he stressed that Poland is still far from fully exploiting its maritime opportunities. "In our case, container shipping volumes remain relatively low. We are losing potential, and we can clearly see it ourselves. At the same time, we are still nowhere near full utilisation," he explained.

According to Zahorski, maritime transport currently accounts for only around 9% of Poland’s freight activity, a figure he believes should be significantly higher. "The sea is not being utilised enough," he argued.

As a comparison, he pointed to Belgium, which operates several major ports despite having a considerably shorter coastline. Poland, by contrast, relies primarily on three major maritime centres: Gdańsk, Gdynia and Szczecin-Świnoujście.

Ports and Railways Must Grow Together

Zahorski also pointed out that future port growth will depend heavily on the development of rail infrastructure.

While Poland has made significant progress, several bottlenecks continue to limit the efficiency of intermodal operations. Nevertheless, national transport strategies extending to 2030 create opportunities for further expansion. "I believe in rail. I believe all ports will increase the share of freight carried by rail," Zahorski said.

During the congress, representatives outlined major investment plans for Szczecin and Świnoujście, repeatedly describing rail transport as the sector’s greatest opportunity for future growth.

Via Carpatia and the New Logistics Map of Central Europe

The discussion also focused on the growing international dimension of Polish infrastructure projects. Germany is already preparing for deeper cooperation with Polish ports, particularly through improved transport links. "German partners are also interested in our competitive offers and in maritime transport itself," Zahorski noted.

A modernised Szczecin–Berlin rail connection, planned for completion between 2028 and 2029, is expected to play a key role in this process.

Another strategic initiative is the so-called ‘West Pomeranian Butterfly’ project, named after the shape of the region on the map. The concept could become an important step towards creating more direct maritime access for Czechia through Poland’s Baltic ports.

At the same time, Poland occupies a critical position within the Via Carpatia corridor, which links Baltic ports with Warsaw and Lublin before continuing south towards Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, while also connecting to Ukraine via eastern Poland and related transport corridors, strengthening links across Central and Eastern Europe.

Combined with ongoing east-west rail and road investments, this places Polish terminals in a strong position to become major multimodal hubs serving both Eurasian transit flows via Małaszewicze and the import-export needs of Central Europe.