COVID-19

Europe

Austria

Air Cargo
There is currently a shortage of airfreight capacity in the market because of suspended passenger flights. Airlines mostly operate with freighters and an increasing number of passenger aircraft operating as cargo-only flights. There is an imbalance in traffic to/from China. While space from China to Europe is extremely tight, exports to China have stabilized. We are offering on-demand solution for our clients, including EMERGENCY transports and charters from Hong Kong via the main EU hubs to Vienna as well as direct charters from China to Vienna. Furthermore, we still offer consols to/from Vienna on a regular basis. In addition, a lot of destinations can be reached via airfreight from Austrian or Western European airports.

Sea Cargo
All terminals and traffic routes in Austria remain open.

Road Transport
The movement of goods remains permitted and there are no general restrictions for national distribution.
Most international routes remain on schedule, subject to the prevailing delays at the borders. Although truck availability is presently challenging, ABC continues to provide the best possible national and international solutions.

Rail Transport
Trains between China and Europe are leaving on schedule with following transit times:
China – Europe: transit time terminal to terminal 12 – 15 days
Europe – China: transit time terminal to terminal 15 – 18 days

Quotas are available but in great demand. If possible, please send us your request two to three weeks before the desired departure date. Wuhan is slowly taking up operations and will start with two departures per week according to recent market information. The first train to Europe left Wuhan on March 18. Due to increased waiting times at borders, ABC offers alternative solutions via rail within Europe, including intermodal concepts.

BeNeLux

Air Cargo
No passenger flights from and to the Benelux are available, with the exception of return flights for citizens of the Benelux countries. Schiphol Airport will release the passenger slots for cargo freighters. The Dutch government decided to allow more freighters to Schiphol Airport until June 6 on ad-hoc requests. Besides our Schiphol team we offer also full service from our team in BRU and LGG with multiple options for handling Full Freighters.

Sea Cargo
Both RoRo and breakbulk vessels are still sailing according to schedule. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Air Cargo
Sarajevo International Airport is closed until April 30 for all passenger flights. Only freighters and charters are operating.

Road Transport
The main cross-border points to Croatia (Nova Sela, Stara Gradiska, Slavonski Samac), Montenegro (Klobuk) and Serbia (Karakaj, Vardiste and Raca) are open for international transport. For the transport of transit goods following border crossings are etablished as follows: Bijača, Gradiška, Šamac, Neum 1 and Neum 2 between BIH and Croatia, Rača between BIH and Serbia and Klobuk between BiH and Montenegro. Gradiška, Šamac, Bijeljina and Ljubuška – will be opened 24/7.

Transport vehicles registered in BIH are followed by police in Croatia. Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) appeals to all truck divers leaving BIH with Croatia as a final destination which are not subject to inspections.

Truck drivers from BIH entering Hungary have to use protective masks and gloves and will be subject to sanitary controls. If they are allowed to enter the country, loading/unloading and leaving the country must be done within 24 hours.

Bulgaria

Road Transport
Green corridors for the delivery of goods have beed defined as follows: at the border to Greece, the main border points are Kulata and Captain Petko Voivod (alternative Ilinden). The main points in Romania are at Vidin and Rousse, while the alternative borders may be Oryahovo and Silistra. Kalotina border checkpoint between Bulgaria and Serbia. Kapitan Andreevo border crossing toTurkey and Gueshevo to Northern Macedonia.

Crossing these green corridor, including any (health) checks should not exceed 15 minutes on inland land borders. Green corridor border crossings must be open to all goods vehicles carrying any type of goods.

Turkey stepped up its restrictions for trucks entering their country, therefore further prolonging the delays at the border crossings (health checks, wearing masks, vehicle disinfection, tracking, etc.)

Sea Cargo
 The border between Bulgaria and Greece is open and we make use of the following ports: Thessaloniki (GR), Piraeus (GR), Varna and Burgas.

Croatia

Road Transport
Only the main cross-border points are open. Trucks are not required to go in convoys anymore and are allowed to enter the country on a regular basis, but all trucks in transit will receive an official note stating that they are required to use the highways and are not allowed to stop except at specific locations (a list of these locations is provided by the police). There is a traffic ban for freight vehicles with trailers on the roads of the Gorski kotar mountain area: This applies to A6 Rijeka-Zagreb motorway, section Bosiljevo-Delnice as well as DC3 Zdihovo-Vrbovsko-Kupjak-Delnice-Kikovica.

There is a closure on the highway A6 Rijeka-Zagreb between Delnice and Kikovica – the bypass road, DC3 through Gorski Kotar works regularly.

There is a 14-day quarantine regulation for Croatian drivers. This regulation is also valid for foreign drivers, unless they leave Croatia with an empty truck immediately after unloading and without any additional stops. This has to be reported by the importer to the Croatian authorities in advance.

Sea Cargo
Rijeka port is working without delays in operations, the terminal is operating within normal working hours.

Czech Republic

Road Transport
The main border crossing are opened with random health checks resulting  in delays. Most loading/unloading sites have introduce strict safety rules, drives are required to wear a face mask, gloves and to use disinfection liquids. At some places drives are not allowed to enter offices or warehouse areas. Domestic as well as international transports are running and drivers are not obligated to undergo quarantine after returning from abroad. Transit for carriers via Czech Republic is allowed.  Trucks over 7.5 tons are allowed to drive on Sundays until further notice.

Sea Cargo
All the inland terminals and border crossings  are fully operational for the transport of the goods  in the country. There are delays at some crossing points with Poland and Slovakia.

Germany

Air Cargo
Passenger aircraft are increasingly used as cargo flights to mitigate capacity shortages.

Sea Cargo
Ports in Germany are in operation. Some capacity shortages are still remaining, especially for eastbound shipments (exports from Germany to Far East). There are blank and void sailings for westbound shipments (imports to Germany), which are expected to last until Q3.

Road Transport
Germany closed borders to many neighboring countries (AT, CH, FR, LU, DK), but international freight transport is allowed to cross borders. The EU Commission proposed to extend the entry bans to European Union until 15th May. However, every country may finally decide on the realization individually. The German states have now consistently softened the ban on truck delivery on Sundays and public holidays for transports of all kinds of goods, including empty trips. Additionally, nighttime deliveries are now allowed now in Lower Saxony and state of Baden-Württemberg. Presets for drive and rest periods were partly softened as well.

Rail Transport
Stable transit times for newly established LCL service from Duisburg, Germany to Hefei, China with weekly departures (CFS closing Wednesday, departure Saturday).

Hungary

Road Transport
Only the main cross-border points are open and there are long waiting times for trucks in international traffic. Transit is possible for foreign drivers, though only certain routes are allowed. Border controls are checking drivers for fever or other COVID19 symptoms, causing long waiting lines at the Slovakian border.

Customs clearance service on weekends speeds up the procedure.

Foreign truck drivers need to leave the country within 24 hours after loading or unloading cargo. If the driver is a Hungarian national, he immediately needs to go into 14-day home quarantine after unloading the goods at the destination site.

Ireland

Transport industry is considered an essential service by the regulators.

Air Cargo
Capacity remains tight with rates being high in the market for both Import and Export movements.

Sea Cargo
Operations are normal so far.

Road Transport
There are currently limitations for first/last mile services. Capacities are getting tighter.

Poland

Border control at the internal border crossings to Germany, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia go extended for another 10 days until May 13. According to the Polish government’s decision the air connections are suspended until May 9 and international rail traffic and the obligation of a two-week quarantine for persons crossing the borders and travelling to places of residence or stay in Poland until further notice. cargo transport still works via road, sea and air charter. Truck drivers have to undergo temperature control and fill in a localization card at the border crossing.

Romania

Road Transport 
The main border crossings are still open. Waiting times for international traffic at the Romanian borders range from 2 to 6 hours. In order to compensate for the waiting times, legislation has changed the truck driver’s resting period starting March 18. The following Romanian border crossing points are closed for transit:

HU border: Turnu, Săcuieni, Salonta and Valea lui Mihai
UA border: Sighet
BG border: Negru Vodă, Lipnița, Dobromir, Zimnicea, Turnu Măgurele and Bechet
MD border: Rădăuți Prut and Oancea
RS border: Porțile de Fier 2, Moldova Nouă, Foieni, Lunga, Vâlcani, Drobeta Turnu Severin and Naidăș

Serbia

Road Transport
The main cross-border points for international traffic are open. Serbia cancelled all police escorts and convoys in international transport. Health checks at the Hungarian border may cause additional delays. Empty trucks from Bulgaria were not allowed to enter Turkey. Drivers who have returned from a country with high risk of COVID-19 infection are put under a 14-day quarantine. Truck drivers in transit have to leave the country within 12 hours upon entry.

Air Cargo
Belgrade airport is still operational, but with reduced staff and shortened working hours (08:00-12:00). Therefore regular procedures take much longer now.

Slovakia

Air Cargo
There are no passengers flights from Slovakia available, with the exception of return flights for Slovakian citizens. There is a shortage of air freighters. We are offering on-demand solution for our clients, including EMERGENCY-services and On-Board-Courier solutions from all airports in the CEE area (VIE, BUD, PRG

Sea Cargo
Service at Slovak terminals is still available. The traffic routes to and from the ports are open, railway connections of cargo transport from all EU ports to Slovak terminals are operating normally.

Road Transport
Mail border crossings between the Slovak Republic and neighboring states are open for freight transport. Green corridors are in place for transport vehicles carrying food , other perishable goods, medicines, live animals. Trucks over 7.5 tons are allowed to drive on Sundays until further notice. Truck drivers are exempt from quarantine measures, but it is recommended that they minimize their stay and transit on the territory of the Slovak Republic.In order to speed up any checks at border crossing, it is recommended for truck drivers to wear a mask.

The Slovak government has decided to step up lock-down measures during the Easter holidays and restrict people’s travels to the district in which they reside. The new restrictions apply from April 8 and will be lifted on April 14. Transport of goods is still possible, but there are long waiting lines at the districts borders (2-4 hours delay).

Rail Transport
Due to capacity shortage, we recommend booking your space in advance, preferably 7-10 days before the goods are ready.

Slovenia

Road Transport
Transit freight from Italy to Croatia through Slovenia is organized in convoys, occasionally also to Hungary.

Crossing the border into Hungary is possible at these checkpoints: Dolga vas, Pince (transit) and former MP Pince R1 / 232 (for citizens of Slovenia and Hungary only). For transit passengers, it is essential to use the corridors between 21:00 and 05:00.

Croatian border crossing points for international traffic are Sečovlje, Dragonja, Sočerga, Podgorje (06:00 to 22:00), Starod, Jelsane, Babno Polje, Petrina, Vinica, Metlika, Slovenska vas, Obrežje, Rigonce, Orešje, Bistrica ob Sotli, Imeno , Rogatec, Dobovec, Gruškovje, Zavrc, Ormož, Središče ob Dravi, Gibina, Pince, Dolga vas, Petišovci. Transit freight traffic is only allowed at the border crossings Obrežje and Gruškovje.

Border inspection posts have been established for checks on the Italian border. The Vrtojba, Fernetiči and Škofije passes are open, Krvavi Potok and Robič are open from 05:00 to 23:00 only.
From April 2 the border crossing to Austria is only possible as follows: Bonisdorf – Kuzma, Mureck – Trate (05:00 to 21:00), Radlpaß – Radelj (05:00 to 21:00), Sicheldorf – Gederovci, Spielfeld – Šentilj (toll station) Bad Radkersburg, – Gornja Radgona Karawankentunnel (A11) – Karavanke (A2) Lavamünd – Vič (05:00 to 23:00) Loibltunnel – Ljubelj (05:00 to 21:00). Transit drivers traveling through Austria must have a full fuel tank at the border crossing, otherwise entry will be denied.

Trucks over 7,5 t are allowed to drive also on Sundays and weekdays from 08:00 to 21:00.

Sea Cargo
The port of Koper is operating normally but there are significant delays in imports due to ‘slow steam’ from Asia to Europe.

Sweden

Air Cargo
Airport terminals in Sweden have reduced their working staff, leading to delays in cargo movement at airports. Most air cargo is moved to other European hubs in order to reach relevant freighter networks.

Sea Cargo
Sea ports are still operating as usual in Nordic countries.

Road Transport
Domestic road traffic is working normally. Swedish borders are open with no limitations. Trucks can move to and from other European countries, subject to other countries’ limitations.

Turkey

Air Cargo
At the moment, only freighter flights are available from Turkey, resulting in reduced capacities.

Sea Cargo
Seaports are currently working normally, but some exporters have stopped bookings to European ports.

Road Transport
The borders to Iran are closed. The border to Georgia is open, but with very slow processing. There are strict border controls with long traffic jams at the Bulgarian and Greek borders. The 14-day quarantine for drivers imposed by the Turkish government has caused a lack of truck driver capacities. The Turkish government took the decision to switch drivers at the Bulgarian border in order to prevent this quarantine and truckers are working on that to establish this set up fast.

We can offer reliable rail transport solutions from Istanbul to various terminals to circumvent the road transport situation. Ro-Ro is working up to Trieste (IT) and Séte (FR), though there are long transit times within Europe.