Growth in automotive logistics at Koper
The French group CMA CGM and the port of Koper have signed a letter of intent to create a joint venture in the automotive logistics sector. The new company will manage a 27,000-square-metre area near the port, dedicated to the handling, maintenance and servicing of finished vehicles. The initiative will be developed with Ceva Logistics, CMA CGM’s subsidiary specialising in automotive logistics for imports and exports. The agreement is part of the broader strengthening of Franco-Slovenian cooperation and the development of the India–Middle East–Europe economic corridor.
First refrigerated train Gioia Tauro–Verona
Medway Italia, the rail company of the MSC Group, has launched the first rail service dedicated to transporting refrigerated containers between the port of Gioia Tauro and the Verona freight terminal. Following a testing phase, the service now operates weekly and takes less than 24 hours to complete the journey. The refrigerated containers are then redistributed from the Veneto terminal to their final destinations.
ÖBB RCG launches operations in Belgium
ÖBB Rail Cargo Group has received the Single Safety Certificate from the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) for the Netherlands, Belgium and the German border area, officially starting its rail freight activities in Belgium. The certificate confirms RCG’s compliance with all legal and operational safety requirements for freight transport. The expansion into Belgium and Germany allows for more flexible and efficient rail operations, benefiting both international and regional customers. On 14 October, the first RCG train operating under its own licence and traction arrived at the port of Zeebrugge, marking Belgium’s integration into the group’s production network. Since 2024, RCG has been operating in the Netherlands through its own transport company, strengthening its presence in Western Europe and offering integrated cross-border logistics solutions. In Belgium, the company is building a local team and hiring staff, including train drivers and operational managers for the Antwerp site, under Belgian labour law.
Blackstone issues bonds on British warehouses
Blackstone has completed a new £507 million commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) issue, secured by a portfolio of UK warehouses. The deal, executed through the vehicle UK Logistics 2025-2 DAC and its subsidiary Indurent, was 2.4 times oversubscribed, attracting around twenty investors. It is the second such issue this year, following one in April, also in the logistics sector. According to Bloomberg data, in 2025 the European CMBS market reached over £6.1 billion in sterling-denominated transactions and €1.9 billion in euro-denominated deals, among the highest levels ever recorded. Indurent, established by Blackstone in 2024, manages the group’s logistics and industrial acquisitions in the UK.
Trucks between Turkey and Saudi Arabia
After years of suspension, three Turkish trucks have crossed Saudi Arabia under the TIR system, re-establishing a strategic land corridor between Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The operation, carried out through Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, marks a key step in the Middle East’s freight connectivity. According to Saritaş International Transport, the reopening of this route enables more direct and secure access to markets such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. For the Turkish transport sector, the Saudi corridor represents the most direct overland route to the Gulf region.
