Latvia must regain its leading position among Baltic ports, Economy Minister Viktors Valainis (ZZS) emphasised on Thursday at a meeting of the Latvian Ports, Transit and Logistics Council.
He noted that “we have lost” to the Port of Klaipėda, due to a lack of coordination and absence of consistent policy in port-related matters. However, he stressed that in areas where targeted policy is implemented, results are visible — for example, in the cruise ship sector.
Valainis underlined that in port-related issues it is important to focus on industrial development, as such processes have already begun in ports, representing a reorientation of port activities. As good examples, he mentioned the development of the Liepāja Special Economic Zone and the Kundziņsala area of the Port of Riga. However, the minister noted that these developments are not reflected in port statistics, as they are not related to cargo throughput.
The minister stated that industrialisation is a direction for port development, but it will reduce port revenues. Therefore, the Ministry of Transport must develop a sustainable port financing strategy, as the development of high value-added industries will decrease port income, for example, from navigation services.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) added during the meeting that
several reallocations of European Union funds have been considered within the government to promote port development.
She also agreed that port performance should not be assessed solely based on cargo volumes, but also on what is produced.
State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport Andulis Židkovs informed that in recent years cargo volumes handled in ports have declined. For example, in 2021 Latvia’s ports handled 41.7 million tonnes of cargo, while last year the figure was 34.3 million tonnes.
He also noted that railway freight volumes have decreased — last year amounting to 9.5 million tonnes, compared to 22 million tonnes in 2021.
It has already been reported that Latvia’s ports handled 34.281 million tonnes of cargo last year, which is 4.8% less than in 2024. Meanwhile, railway freight transport volume in Latvia in 2025 decreased by 17.6% compared to 2024, reaching 9.454 million tonnes.
The Latvian Ports, Transit and Logistics Council is a coordinating institution for the port and logistics sector, involving the Prime Minister, several sectoral ministers, port authorities, city leaders, and representatives of public organisations, as well as other state institutions.
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