Taiwoong Logistics, a comprehensive logistics services company, announced on July 31 that it has signed an acquisition agreement with Croatian transport company LA Trans doo. This strategic move is part of Taiwoong Logistics’ broader plan to capitalize on the development and modernization project of Croatia’s largest commercial port, the Port of Rijeka.
Founded in 1993 in the coastal city of Rijeka in western Croatia, LA Trans doo specializes in the transportation of goods bound for Europe, including containers, heavy goods, refrigerated logistics and the transportation of hazardous materials. The company is also an inland transport contractor for the global shipping giant Maersk, confirming its important role in the regional logistics landscape.
In 2021, Maersk decided to invest €600 million in a joint venture with Croatian company ENNA to expand the container terminal at the Port of Rijeka. The two-phase project aims to increase the port’s capacity from the current 400,000 TEUs to an additional 650,000 TEUs per year by 2025. The expansion is expected to transform the Port of Rijeka into an even more important trade and logistics hub in Eastern Europe.
A representative from Taiwoong Logistics commented on the acquisition: “This acquisition is a result of the focus on the modernization development project of Croatia’s largest commercial port, the Port of Rijeka. We expect to create commercial synergies with our existing subsidiaries in Hungary and Germany using the Port of Rijeka as a bridge.” The Port of Rijeka, together with the Port of Koper in Slovenia, which handles an annual volume of 1 million TEU, is a major port of entry into Eastern Europe.
Han Jae-dong, CEO of Taiwoong Logistics, spoke about the company’s future plans, saying, “We plan to strengthen the secondary battery logistics network in Eastern Europe via Rijeka, while developing inland logistics routes in the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. In the long term, we aim to establish a logistics network connecting Europe and Central Asia.”
The acquisition of LA Trans doo is expected to strengthen Taewoong Logistics’ capabilities in the region, leveraging the strategic location of the Port of Rijeka. The move is in line with the company’s broader vision of integrating and modernizing logistics and transportation networks across Eastern Europe and beyond.
The ongoing modernisation and expansion of the Port of Rijeka, supported by significant investments from Maersk, is expected to play a pivotal role in this transformation. The improved capacity of the port will not only benefit Croatia but also neighbouring countries, facilitating smoother and more efficient trade routes.
