At the beginning of this year, two new container cargo lines started operating in the Port of Riga.
The ships of the British company Ellerman City Liners will connect the Port of Riga with the ports of Gdynia, Teesport, Tilbury, and Rotterdam.
Meanwhile, ships of the leading international sea container carrier company Hapag-Lloyd will operate on the route Wilhelmshaven-Hamburg-Klaipeda-Riga-Rauma-Helsinki-Wilhelmshaven.
Vessels of both shipping lines will call the Port of Riga once a week.
Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world’s top global container shipping companies. Its fleet boasts 305 modern container ships with a total transport capacity of 12.5 million TEUs per year.
The company employs 17,400 employees in more than 400 representative offices across 140 countries.
The strategic addition of the Port of Riga to Hapag-Lloyd’s extensive network provides clients with faster, more reliable delivery solutions and enhanced global connectivity. This integration makes it easier to reach more international destinations directly from Riga.
The inclusion of the Port of Riga in Hapag-Lloyd’s regular shipping routes is a direct outcome of a high-level trade mission to Hamburg in September 2025, led by the Minister of Economics, Viktors Valainis.
During this strategic visit, Latvian officials met with Hapag-Lloyd’s senior management to finalize the line’s return to Riga, stated that each new route through Riga boosts the efficiency and safety of Latvian supply chains while paving the way for new business activities and expanded export opportunities.
On Hapag-Lloyd’s new route, two container ships will provide regular, scheduled transport, calling at the berths of SIA “Rīgas Universālais Termināls”.
The British container shipping company Ellerman City Liners offers its clients a comprehensive suite of multimodal solutions. The company is distinguished by its emphasis on service excellence and precision. Also, in speed, and a client-centered approach.
Utilizing a versatile fleet that includes vessels ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 TEU, Ellerman provides critical shipping links between the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe.
Ellerman City Liners will provide regular transportation via Riga operating two container carriers, which will be serviced at the berths of SIA “Rīgas Centrālais Termināls”.
The Port of Riga is the only port in Latvia that maintains regular container shipping lines and specialized container terminals.
Currently, the port has achieved a historic milestone with nine active container lines. The highest number in its history.
These lines include CMA CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Sea Consortium, Unifeeder, Samskip, Ocean Network Express, Poland-Finland Service, Ellerman City Liners, and Hapag-Lloyd.
In 2025, the Port of Riga handled 495,700 TEUs, accounting for 99% of all containerized cargo handled by Latvian ports. This confirms the Port of Riga’s leading role in servicing this segment.
Containers represent the port’s second largest cargo segment, accounting for 30% of its total cargo portfolio.
Lastly, containerized cargo is a priority cargo according to the Port of Riga’s strategy. Its volume,alongside, has grown by an average of 4% annually over the last five years.
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