Italian air cargo continues to fall in May
In May 2025, Italian airports handled 111,376 tonnes of freight, marking a 0.9% drop compared to the same month in 2024, according to data from Assaeroporti. Among the main hubs, Malpensa posted a 2.4% increase (65,494.6 tonnes), while Fiumicino saw a 2.7% decline (25,088 tonnes). Venice performed well with a 4.6% rise, reaching 5,982.5 tonnes and taking third place nationally. Bologna fell by 5.7% and Bergamo by 1.5%, while Brescia suffered a sharp drop of 24%. Over the January–May period, total volumes reached 500,441 tonnes, down 1% overall. Malpensa remained stable with a 0.1% dip, and Fiumicino declined by 1.4%. Venice recorded a positive 4.2% increase, while Bologna and Brescia dropped by 4.9% and 6.7% respectively. Bergamo rose by 2.2%.
EU funds for new truck rest areas in Alessandria and Verona
The European Commission will finance three projects through the Connecting Europe Facility to create secure parking areas for commercial vehicles, including two in Italy and one led by Enilive spanning three countries including Italy. The first Italian project, submitted by Consorzio Zai, which manages the Quadrante Europa Interporto in Verona, provides for 227 new bays and the upgrade of 456 existing ones in unspecified locations, with funding of approximately 6.384 million euros. The second project, promoted by Truck Parking Network Italy, will receive around 4.846 million euros for the construction of a rest area in Alessandria along the A21 motorway. It will include 300 parking bays and four charging stations capable of simultaneously powering eight refrigerated semi-trailers, aiming for Gold SSTPA certification. The site is located in Castelceriolo on a plot of agricultural land measuring around 75,000 square metres.
Two million euros from the FVG Region for Trieste Interporto
The Friuli Venezia Giulia Region has allocated two million euros to Interporto Trieste for the modernisation of warehouses at the Fernetti autoporto, with a focus on safety and maintenance upgrades. The funding is part of a broader package of amendments exceeding 35 million euros tied to the regional budget adjustment. Meanwhile, the Eastern Adriatic Sea Port Authority has approved the extension of the Free Point FreeEste area to Bagnoli della Rosandra, where Interporto Trieste operates. The request had been submitted in February to expand capacity and meet the growing demand for space under Free Point regulations.
Adriafer ends 2024 in the red
Adriafer, the railway company controlled by the Eastern Adriatic Sea Port Authority, closed its 2024 financial year with a negative result of 1.5 million euros, on a production value of 18.17 million euros. The losses are attributed to geopolitical instability and infrastructure works. Nevertheless, the company stresses that the loss is sustainable thanks to its strong capital structure. The first five months of 2025 show a recovery in volumes and performance, with expected growth in ro-ro traffic and routes via Austria. A new multi-year industrial plan is currently under evaluation.
Logistics thefts reported in May
In May, 341 cargo thefts were reported across 30 countries in the EMEA region, with a total estimated value of nearly 6 million euros. According to the TAPA EMEA intelligence system, the average loss per incident with a known value was 84,081 euros, with daily losses averaging 192,573 euros. Among the ten most significant incidents were the theft of goods worth 2 million euros from a trailer in Laon, France, on 16 May, and a 1.96 million euro theft on 5 May in Haifa, Israel. In Italy, on 23 May in Verona, a gang stole 80 boxes of men’s clothing worth 200,000 euros. After disabling the security cameras, the thieves forced entry and loaded the goods onto a van. The Carabinieri arrested three men using the vehicle’s GPS and surveillance footage.
Logistics real estate investment slows in second quarter
In the second quarter of 2025, investment in Italy’s logistics real estate sector totalled 141 million euros, a 29.5% decrease from 200 million in the same period of 2024. According to the latest analysis by Dils, the decline is due to temporary factors, while underlying market trends remain favourable. Overall, the first half of the year closed with 785 million euros in investments, a 61% increase compared to approximately 500 million in the first half of 2024. As for take-up, the second quarter saw a 13% rise compared to the previous quarter but a 1.5% year-on-year drop, with around 560,000 square metres absorbed. Over the first six months, approximately 1,050,000 square metres of logistics space were taken up, down 11% from the same period in 2024. More than 80% of the space absorbed was newly built. Prime rents remained stable in Milan and Rome at 70 euros per square metre per year, and rose in Verona to 60 euros per square metre per year.
Malpensa–Riyadh direct cargo flight resumes with Saudia Cargo
On 15 July 2025, Saudia Cargo will resume direct air cargo service between Milan Malpensa and Riyadh. The route will be operated every Tuesday using a Boeing 777 Freighter. Itr Cargo, the airline’s General Sales Agent in Italy, describes the route as a strategic opportunity for national exports. Alessandra Pecci of the Distal Group highlighted that the network expansion confirms the group's ongoing growth in the cargo sector.
