Transport and storage

From the transport and logistics point of view, Latvia has the best location to establish a business in Northern Europe. Just look at the map! Latvia is at the heart of Europe’s fastest-growing area — the Baltic Sea region (northeast part of Europe). Due to the geographical advantages that serve as a gateway between Scandinavia, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe, logistics has always been a priority area in Latvia. If we speak about the capital – Riga – it is the largest Baltic city, located in the middle of the Baltic region. 

Latvian transport and storage sector is diversified, with sea and railway transport being important export services. Thus, Latvia is a natural home for regional headquarters and distribution centres of international companies. The sector is enhanced by the modernization and implementation of high-tech solutions and automation to processes. Competitive labour and favourable government policies aimed at improving the road infrastructure, promoting railway freight, and promoting ICT and new technologies further contribute to the potential.

 

Main subsectors​​​​​

Largest airline and airport in the region; Logistics and post serving Alibaba airplanes; Rail integrated into all CIS rail system (1520mm); Upcoming Rail Baltica project; Multimodal terminals in 3 ice-free ports and seven smaller ports; TEN-T transport core network

Fast facts
  • We are proud to have the largest air transportation hub in the Baltics – Riga International Airport – offering 100 direct destinations and serving nearly half of Latvian national airline airBaltic passengers. 
  • Latvian railroads are the main commercial transportation infrastructure, especially for inland traffic. We are the only country in Europe with more than 70% of railway inland freight transport. Just wait for one of the biggest global projects, the Rail Baltic railway network, to connect Helsinki with Berlin right through the Baltics! The construction will be finished by 2026.
  • When it comes to freight handling, we are very competitive at a European level – Latvia is in the fourth place in port freight per capita, reaching 20.1 tonnes per capita in 2021. Also, we offer one of the most attractive port tariffs among Baltic Sea countries.
Industry statistics
  • The transport and storage sector is one of the most promising sectors in the Latvian economy. In 2021, Latvia had more than 145 million tons of cargo transported through railways, roads, and ports – 22 million tonnes through railway, 42 million tonnes sent internationally out from Latvian seaports, 82 million tonnes transported by road and 11 thousand tonnes of cargo delivered by air transportation.
  • Riga International Airport had recovered from crisis in 2021 - its number of passengers had risen by 21% and was 2.35 million people yearly. 
  • We are in the epicentre of action here, as goods within 24 hours can be delivered to any customer in the Baltic States and even in Helsinki, Stockholm, and Warsaw.
Employment and education
  • We hope you are not indecisive! If you want to pursue higher education in Latvia in transport and logistics, you can choose between 12 universities providing higher education in the industry. There is also airBaltic PilotAcademy.
  • Also, Latvia currently has around 1002 students studying transportation and logistics. Defying the bias that transport and logistics are male domineered industries, 20% of the students are females.
  • The transport and logistics field is attractive and lucrative in Latvia, as 8085 companies operate within the sector, with total employment of  69 000 people.
Industry leaders
  • Capital Clinic Riga is the top-level healthcare clinic in Riga that offers a wide range of medical services, including the most modern physical examinations and treatments provided by high-class physicians and specialists in their fields.
  • EGV Clinic is working in the fields of reproductive health and fertilization, offering an outstanding specialist team who can resolve the most challenging cases, provide advice, and share experiences to prevent reproductive health disorders.
  • Dr. Mauriņš Vein Clinic is one of the most modern laser surgery and vein treatment clinics in Europe. Using contemporary, safe, and approved methods, thousands of patients receive the best treatment for their varicose veins, tropical ulcers, and other vein problems.
  • Genera is specialized in molecular genetics testing for almost 20 years and is a certified diagnostic laboratory using only up-to-date equipment that allows performing a wide range of genetic analyses.
  • IVF Riga is the leading specialist in infertility treatment with the mission to provide treatment of complicated infertility pathologies to give a chance for pregnancy even after previous unsuccessful treatment courses.
  • Medical Center “ARS” is one of the largest and highly esteemed medical clinics in Latvia, bringing together leading medical specialists and using up-to-date technologies, innovations, and recent scientific discoveries in all its branches.
  • RSU Nuclear Medicine Clinic is a newly built nuclear medicine clinic with up-to-date medicine technologies, equipped laboratories, cyclotron, and the only new generation PET/CT scanner in Latvia. 
  • Anatomy Next provides anatomy learning tools for students and teachers, built to guide the learning process through interaction and manipulation of the anatomical models through multiple platforms.
  • Cast print is a custom-made, 3D printed cast for various types of fracture injuries. Cast print products are lightweight, ventilated, and with a waterproof solution that allows a person to have a comfortable recovery period.

 Downloads

Transport and Logistics fact sheet

Contacts

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