Slovakia’s industrial strength drives demand for integrated logistics

Located in the heart of Central Europe, Slovakia is one of the most industrialised economies on the continent – industry accounts for nearly 30% of its GDP, with automotive and electronics among its leading sectors. Both industries are characterised by highly complex and geographically dispersed supply chains. They rely on the import of raw materials and components from markets around the world, efficient inventory management and deliveries to production lines, as well as – increasingly – the global distribution of finished goods and advanced semi-finished products. At a time when international supply chains are facing repeated disruptions – from obstacles on transport routes from Asia and new US tariff barriers to economic challenges in major European economies such as Germany – resilient, flexible and efficient supply chains are becoming an increasingly important source of competitive advantage for companies operating in Slovakia. This, in turn, creates opportunities for logistics operators.

The backbone of Slovak industry is the automotive sector. In 2025, Slovak plants produced 1.07 million cars, equivalent to 196 vehicles per thousand inhabitants – the highest per capita production rate in the world. Local plants also producing components, spare parts and other automotive equipment. The sector accounts for nearly 43% of the country’s exports, with suppliers and customers located across global markets. Its structure is now being further reshaped by the transition to electromobility. The EUR 1.2 billion Volvo Cars plant near Košice is expected to start series production in 2027, while the Gotion-InoBat battery gigafactory in Šurany and the Hyundai Mobis electric drive unit facility in Nováky are being developed in parallel. For logistics, this means new types of cargo and a growing inflow of batteries, battery components and other specialised parts, mainly from Asian markets, alongside increasing flows of finished vehicles from Slovak plants to customers across Europe.

Electronics and electrical engineering, another pillar of the Slovak economy, are characterised by similarly complex and geographically dispersed supply chains. The sector covers a broad range of production, from electronic components and industrial automation to household appliances and consumer electronics, and accounts for around 8% of industrial output. Exports of electrical and electronic equipment exceeded USD 20 billion in 2025.

A regional market geographically, a global one functionally

Slovakia’s industrial structure is closely reflected in its international trade flows. This is driven by the characteristics of the economy described above and the nature of the automotive and electronics industries, which operate within global supply chains, but these are not the only factors. Companies operating in Slovakia across a range of other industries – including both local businesses and international players with operations in the country – also import and export goods within Europe and to markets around the world. These include, for example, machinery and equipment, chemicals and plastics, pharmaceuticals, and processed foods.

Germany is the largest destination for Slovak exports, accounting for around 23%, followed by the Czech Republic and Poland. However, given the economic challenges facing Germany, particularly in its industrial sector, diversification towards other markets is becoming increasingly relevant for Slovak companies. This can mean strengthening trade within the CEE region, including with neighbouring Czech and Polish markets, but also looking further afield. The importance of Asian markets is growing, both as sources of components and as destinations for finished products, with Central Asian markets such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan offering further opportunities for Slovak exporters. Trade with the United States is also significant, while other markets can provide alternatives for selected industries – for example, Mexico, with its strong automotive manufacturing base, could become a destination for Slovak automotive components and semi-finished products.

At the same time, when considering the US market, companies need to take the tariff environment into account. The EU-US trade agreement introduced a 15% tariff ceiling on passenger cars and automotive parts, while steel and aluminium remain subject to a 50% tariff. Together with evolving customs rules and regulations such as CBAM and EUDR, these changes require companies to continuously adapt their supply chains and carefully consider where and how they source, manufacture and distribute goods. In an increasingly complex global trading environment, flexible logistics, efficient customs handling and end-to-end supply chain management are becoming increasingly important for resilience and competitiveness.
Industrial know-how as a competitive advantage in the nearshoring race

Slovakia’s industrial experience and know-how, combined with a skilled workforce, developed infrastructure and an established network of suppliers, are important advantages in the competition for new manufacturing and distribution investments. As companies across CEE increasingly consider nearshoring to bring production and inventory closer to European markets, locations with an established industrial ecosystem and the necessary expertise have a clear advantage. Slovakia is already benefiting from this trend, with the aforementioned foreign investments in electromobility adding new production capacity to the country. For the Slovak economy, such projects mean not only new industrial investments and jobs, but also deeper integration into European and global supply chains.

One-stop-shop logistics in the Slovak market

As companies operating in Slovakia manage increasingly complex and time-sensitive supply chains, they need logistics solutions supporting international operations across Europe and key markets in the United States and Asia. The growth of nearshoring, combined with changing tariffs, customs procedures and regulatory requirements, makes resilient, flexible and efficient supply chain management increasingly important. This creates growing demand for integrated logistics providers able to combine international transport, warehousing, customs services and supply chain solutions tailored to the specific needs of individual businesses.

At Rohlig SUUS Logistics, we have been present in Slovakia since 2020 and see significant potential for further growth in the local logistics market. We provide domestic and international road transport, both FTL and LTL, while continuously expanding our transport network across the V4 region, including Slovakia. This year, we launched a new daily groupage service between Rzeszów in Poland and Košice in Slovakia, allowing customers to integrate the connection into broader logistics operations linking Slovakia with different regions of Poland, including seaports, and further European markets. We also provide comprehensive warehousing services at our logistics centre in Bratislava, including storage, cross-docking and value-added services such as co-packing.

We manage global supply chains through sea, air and rail freight, intermodal solutions and customs services, which are increasingly important for the smooth flow of international trade. Among our solutions is the Customs Control Tower model, which enables customs clearances across several markets to be coordinated from a single point. We also support customers in meeting regulatory requirements such as CBAM and EUDR, including reporting obligations. Under Supply Chain Solutions, we design and implement logistics processes tailored to the specific requirements of individual companies.