On 10 September last year, Rijeka Gateway, operated by APM Terminals and ENNA, entered service with the arrival of its first commercial vessel. The terminal was officially inaugurated on 28 October, marking the public launch of a project years in the making.

One year on, its significance extends beyond a single port. Rijeka Gateway offers a glimpse into a broader shift taking place across European supply chains, where connectivity is becoming just as important as capacity.

As vessels grow larger, trade flows evolve and customers place greater value on reliability and resilience, businesses are rethinking how goods move through Europe. Increasingly, competitive advantage depends not on individual assets, but on how effectively ports, transport networks and logistics facilities work together.

From capacity to connectivity

In today’s supply chains, connectivity is becoming as important as capacity.

While larger vessels and modern terminals remain critical, businesses increasingly need logistics networks that are reliable, predictable and connected from origin to destination. The greatest opportunities to improve performance often lie in how effectively different parts of the supply chain work together.

As a result, the conversation is shifting beyond capacity alone. The most competitive trade corridors are increasingly those that integrate ocean transportation, terminals, inland transport and warehousing into a seamless flow, rather than operating as standalone assets.

Why this matters for Europe

Europe’s supply chains are becoming more interconnected and more complex. Businesses serve multiple markets, manage diverse sourcing locations and respond to changing customer demand across borders.

In this environment, efficient connections between maritime gateways and inland markets can help reduce complexity and create greater flexibility.

Locations such as Rijeka are well positioned in this evolving landscape. Situated on the Adriatic coast, Rijeka Gateway combines deep-water access with digital operations and modern infrastructure designed to support larger vessels and growing trade volumes. It is also the first container terminal in the Adriatic region to operate remote-controlled electric container-handling equipment, highlighting how technology is becoming increasingly embedded in trade infrastructure.

But modern infrastructure cannot be judged solely by what happens at the terminal gate. Its real value lies in how efficiently cargo can continue its journey onwards.

The growing importance of inland logistics

As supply chains become more sophisticated, warehousing and distribution are playing a more strategic role. Distribution centres are evolving from storage locations into strategic hubs that help businesses manage inventory, respond to changing demand and position goods closer to customers. As a result, inland connectivity is becoming just as important as maritime connectivity.

Near Rijeka, the Maersk facility in Kukuljanovo provides warehousing, distribution and value-added logistics services that support customers across Central and Eastern Europe. Together, the terminal operated by APM Terminals and Maersk’s inland logistics capabilities, illustrate how connected trade corridors can help businesses move goods more efficiently between global trade lanes and regional markets.

What customers increasingly value

These shifts are being driven by customer needs. Across industries, businesses are looking beyond individual logistics services and focusing on how entire supply chains perform. Reliability, predictability and visibility are becoming as important as speed.

Customers increasingly value logistics ecosystems that connect transportation, terminals, warehousing and distribution into a seamless flow. The goal is not simply to move cargo from A to B, but to reduce complexity and improve consistency across the entire journey.

This reflects a broader trend across European supply chains: success depends less on individual assets and more on how effectively they work together.

Looking ahead

One year after opening, Rijeka Gateway offers a useful illustration of where the industry is heading.

The future of trade will not be defined solely by larger vessels or larger terminals. It will be shaped by the strength of the connections between ports, transport networks, warehousing and digital capabilities.

For Europe, building these connected trade corridors will be critical to supporting growth, competitiveness and resilient supply chains in the years ahead.

Source: Maersk