APM Terminals announced that a groundbreaking ceremony signaled the start of the construction of the planned Rijeka Gateway terminal in Croatia.
"This is the greatest investment in the Port of Rijeka's history, and it will produce more than 300 employees on the terminal itself," said Maersk-owned port operating company.
The container terminal will open in 2025, with a total investment of US$408 million (€380 million). Over the next two years, more than US$215 million will be invested in the first phase, with an additional US$193 million anticipated for the second phase over the next ten years.
Rijeka Gateway will be the most advanced, cutting-edge, remote-controlled container terminal in this part of Europe, according to APM Terminals, which said that with a concession period of 50 years, the terminal will act as a primary access point to hinterland countries and markets.
It will also play an important role in the growth of the local economy since most project contracts are and will continue to be completed by domestic and local businesses.
"In the first phase, we will be able to process a total of 650,000 TEUs annually, and we expect growth to over a million TEUs per year in the next phase. And in the long run, we expect that those numbers will keep on growing. We estimate in 2026, the fiscal contribution to the state will be around €100 million, growing up to €200 million after 2030," stated Tomislav Žunić, CFO and management board member of Rijeka Gateway.
