Industry-driven trade pulls Hungarian logistics closer to the factories

Hungary’s economy is becoming increasingly export-oriented, and this year’s export recovery is driven primarily by the growth of the automotive and electronics industries. According to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), exports to the United States in January–August were more than 35% higher than a year earlier, while exports to Poland, Hungary’s second most important export market after Germany, rose by 6.7%. Imports are growing in parallel, as local plants rely to a large extent on components sourced from abroad. For logistics, this means higher volumes in both directions, as well as new requirements for transport infrastructure and warehousing capacity.

As a logistics operator present in Hungary through our own subsidiary, we see these changes across the entire supply chain, from the transport of components to production plants to the distribution of finished goods to foreign markets. The location of warehouses is also becoming more important, as new facilities are being built close to factories and main transport routes.

Automotive and electronics industries drive trade

Industry currently has the greatest impact on Hungary’s foreign trade performance. In August, exports of transport equipment and electronics were almost 40% higher than a year earlier, which shows how quickly new production capacity translates into sales abroad. A good example is Debrecen, where the BMW plant has once again increased its production volume. At the same time, this economic model generates steady demand for imports, as export production depends to a large extent on parts and components sourced from abroad.
The Hungarian National Bank (MNB) forecasts that imports will grow faster than exports this year. In addition to supplies for factories, imports are also driven by household consumption, supported by rising real wages. This is clearly visible in sea freight, where imports account for more than 70% of Hungary’s container traffic. In practice, efficient management of inbound shipments, including customs clearance and storage before onward distribution, is becoming key for many companies.

Infrastructure develops along the main trade routes

Hungary is landlocked, so its overseas trade, including growing trade with the United States, from where imports almost doubled in eight months, passes through ports in neighbouring countries. In the second quarter, Hungary’s maritime container traffic reached a record high, with the largest share of cargo entering Hungary via Adriatic ports. For shipments to and from Hungary, we use both southern ports, such as Koper and Constanța, as well as Trieste and Rijeka, which are also important gateways for Hungarian cargo. On northern routes, we use Gdańsk and German ports, including Hamburg and Bremerhaven, depending on the trade lane, cargo type and customer requirements. The choice of route depends on the type of cargo and the required transit time, while growing competition between Adriatic and Baltic ports gives companies manufacturing in Hungary more flexibility.

Land infrastructure is developing in parallel. Since 2025, road traffic with Romania has moved without border controls, and in the coming years the M49 expressway is due to reach the Romanian border. This matters, because this year it is imports from Romania to Hungary that are growing particularly fast. The rail development plan for 2026–2035, adopted in August, includes preparations for fast connections with Vienna and Warsaw, while the modernised Budapest–Belgrade railway is progressing towards full commercial operation, with services still understood to be in a testing or limited operational phase. Its potential to support freight flows should therefore be assessed with this in mind. An additional boost for investment may come from the October decision of the Council of the EU to unblock cohesion funds for Hungary.

The air freight market is also undergoing changes. Regulatory developments and additional EU customs requirements have contributed to a decline in low-value e-commerce shipments, reducing volumes handled at airports. For general cargo-focused operators such as Rohlig SUUS Logistics, this creates both opportunities and challenges. Handling agents are paying greater attention to traditional freight forwarders and general cargo shipments, while the withdrawal of some air cargo capacity has reduced the range of export options available. At the same time, rates to Asia have become more competitive on certain trade lanes.

Warehouses move closer to factories and transport corridors

Changes in industry and trade are also visible in the warehouse market. Hungary’s modern industrial and logistics stock has exceeded 6.5 million sqm, and take-up in the first half of the year was clearly higher than a year earlier. Most new supply is now being delivered outside Budapest, in regions where the automotive industry is developing. Developers are also increasingly investing along the main transport corridors, including the M6 motorway towards Croatia. After a period of speculative development, vacant space is also available on the market, giving tenants a wider choice of locations. 

We see more and more companies deciding to hold inventory closer to production plants and sales markets, and we offer this solution in Hungary as well. In 2024, we opened a 7,000 sqm warehouse in Budapest, located right next to the airport and the M0/M4 motorway junction. It combines storage and distribution with value-added services (VAS), such as co-packing and labelling, as well as customs services. Its proximity to the airport supports the development of air freight. Our Hungarian branch is strengthening its position in this product year after year, especially in exports, where we regularly rank among the top 15 operators by volumes handled. Another factor contributing to growing demand for warehousing services is the changing e-commerce landscape, as new customs requirements and shifts in shipment volumes prompt companies to reassess their logistics strategies and inventory management.

Manufacturers, particularly in the automotive sector, are increasingly interested in VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory), a model that combines warehousing, inventory management and customs services. The logistics operator handles the import of components and manages their stock, while the customer pays for the goods and settles the related customs duties and taxes only when the components are released from the warehouse for production. This allows manufacturers to keep the parts they need readily available without tying up capital in inventory before it is needed on the production line.

The advantage will go to companies that position their inventory close to factories or main corridors and combine customs services with transport in a single process. At Rohlig SUUS Logistics, we are developing our network around Hungary: we have our own subsidiaries in Slovenia and Romania, among others, and we treat Central and Eastern Europe as a single, integrated business unit, in which operational decisions are taken locally. The outlook for the Hungarian economy remains moderately optimistic. The Hungarian National Bank expects GDP growth to accelerate from 1.8% this year to 2.9% in 2027, as new automotive production capacity comes on stream. If these forecasts materialise, demand for logistics services and warehouse space will continue to grow.