ENNSHAFEN port – Challenges & Opportunities – 2023 brought several challenges for Ennshafen port, but also opportunities. The year was characterized by declining handling volumes. Economic development showed positive signs despite the global challenges.
The impact of the Ukraine conflict on water/land handling was clearly noticeable, particularly in the grain and oilseed product groups. At around 420,000 tons, total throughput was 26% below the previous year’s figure. In 2023, 517 ships were unloaded in Ennshafen port.
The water conditions on the Danube also played a decisive role, with several periods of low water leading to reduced handling volumes and lighter ships. A ray of hope in this respect is the improvement in shipping conditions on the Danube in the Straubing area. The deepening of the navigation channel over around ten kilometres provides up to 65 centimetres more unloading depth.
Container Terminal Enns (CTE) also recorded declining volumes in shipments to and from the seaports in 2023. Just under 400,000 TEU – a decline of around 14% compared to the previous year – were handled at the gateway terminal in Ennshafen port in 2023. The decline in the container business in Enns is mainly noticeable in imports of consumer goods from Asia. However, it is important to note that the connection between the Upper Austrian central region and the European seaports has been maintained in full, and the port of Rijeka has also been added to the timetable. The terminal in Ennshafen port is currently frequented by around 90 combined transport trains a week to the seaports and in Austria to Vienna, Linz, Graz and Salzburg.
Despite the global challenges, the economic development showed positive signs. Several companies in Ennshafen port expanded their storage and operating facilities, thus strengthening Ennshafen port as an important logistics and trade hub in the region.
Another decisive step towards the future was the increased digitalization in the port area. The digital recording of loading/discharging documents was well received by shipping companies, making processes more efficient.
The importance of effective climate management for companies is also steadily increasing due to international requirements such as the Paris Climate Agreement and EU reporting obligations. Stakeholders such as customers, investors, banks, NGOs and consumers are placing increasingly high expectations on companies with regard to climate change. Ennshafen port is taking a forward-looking approach and has already begun to prepare the specifications of international and national requirements for future documentation in good time and to draw up plans for the 2030-2050 target period.
Overall, the development of Ennshafen port in 2023 shows that a holistic strategy based on flexibility, modernization and sustainability is crucial.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)