RIGA - Last year, 22.9 percent of trucking companies licensed in Latvia for international transportation of goods operated on the Russian market, the Road Transport Administration told LETA.
According to the Road Transport Administration, the number of such trucking companies has decreased by 4.8 percent compared to 2023.
At the same time, the Road Transport Administration also notes that Latvian trucking companies are looking for alternatives and exploring new markets, as the Russian market has been losing ground for the last six years.
According to the Road Transport Administration, the largest number of shipments last year was to and from Lithuania, followed by Estonia. The Russian market is still in third place, but its share continues to decline as Latvian trucking companies are becoming more active on the German and Scandinavian markets.
The Road Transport Administration also notes that some Latvian trucking companies are increasingly interested in the Trans-Caspian Corridor, a route through Georgia and Azerbaijan that connects China and Central Asian countries with Europe. However, Latvia's geographical location means that the distances to be covered and the costs are much higher than for trucking companies based in Central Europe, making it difficult to compete.
"Unpredictable ferry traffic in the Caspian Sea is a major problem, as waiting times can take up to 25 days in port, which means vehicle downtime and causes difficulties in scheduling deliveries," the Road Transport Administration added.
In 2024, the number of permits issued for trucking shipments to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia increased by 35.2 percent compared to 2023. The number of Latvian trucking companies shipping freights to the Caucasus countries accounted for about 1.5 percent of international trucking companies licensed in Latvia, while the number of companies shipping freights to Central Asian countries accounted for about 6.7 percent.
Last year, there were 4,593 international and domestic trucking companies licensed in Latvia, which is 3 percent less than in 2023.
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