📦 Budapest Airport: A Central Hub
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport has become a pivotal e-commerce hub in Europe. In 2024, over 95M parcels transited through the Ferihegy cargo terminal, marking a drastic rise from 14M parcels in 2021. While only 11M were destined for Hungary, the rest supplied other EU countries. This growth primarily stems from Chinese e-commerce giants like Temu, SHEIN, and AliExpress, leveraging the airport for fast European distribution.
✈️ Strategic Location Drives Success
Experts highlight Budapest’s geographic advantage in reducing transit times. Goods arrive directly, avoiding extra hours of air and road travel to Western Europe. This aligns with Hungary’s "Eastern opening" policy. According to CEO Kam Jandu, air cargo volumes at Budapest Airport soared to 200,000 tonnes in 2023, a 50% increase from 2019. József Kossuth, the cargo director, credits a decade of strategic planning for this milestone.
🚚 Logistics Players See Gains
The logistics boom has benefited companies like Waberer's Group, recently acquired by István Tiborcz. The firm is building a base for Hungary’s postal service to handle the influx. However, parcel operators such as Packeta and Sameday struggle to cope with the surging volume, which has strained infrastructure and disrupted operations. Despite these challenges, Hungary remains a key player in Far Eastern trade.
🔍 Challenges Amid Growth
While growth bolsters Hungary’s logistics industry, profit margins remain tight. Operators report chaos due to the sheer volume of parcels from Chinese retailers. Still, Hungary’s efforts to attract Far Eastern investments are paying off. The airport’s role as a major distribution hub reinforces Hungary’s strategy of integrating more deeply into global e-commerce logistics.
Is Budapest Airport Europe’s next big logistics hub?
