Transit of cargo in Lithuania, to Europe, Russia, Scandinavian countries. Freight transportation to Lithuania and transit through it

Lithuania is the largest Baltic republic by area and population. In terms of economic volume, Lithuania surpasses the other Baltic countries. However, in terms of GDP per capita, Lithuania lags behind Estonia but outpaces Latvia.

The Lithuanian economy is oriented towards both export and import, of goods and raw materials. There are no oil and gas deposits on Lithuanian territory. After the closure of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, the country experiences an energy deficit, which is covered by importing hydrocarbons from Russia and electricity from Sweden.

Infrastructure for ensuring freight transportation

Lithuania has largely preserved the transport structure inherited from the Soviet Union. The transport infrastructure still does not reach European levels. Nevertheless, all types of modern transport: maritime, road, rail, and air are present in the country, and their infrastructure allows for sustainable cargo delivery.

Lithuania shares land borders with Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and the Kaliningrad region of Russia. The country's access to the Baltic Sea allows it not only to send and receive cargo from countries in the region but also to participate in maritime transport worldwide. The geographical location of the country makes its use as a transit transport corridor interesting.

Roads and their condition

The length of Lithuania's roads is about 22,000 km, of which approximately 13,500 kilometers of Lithuanian roads have a solid surface. The road transport network provides the possibility of transporting cargo directly to Lithuania as well as international freight transit.

However, the condition of the roads raises complaints from drivers. The country has not yet managed to reach European road quality standards. Repairs to the road network to meet European standards are ongoing, but inspections conducted in 2018 showed that 90% of the constructed and repaired roads have defects and are simply substandard. The reason lies in deviations from road construction technology.

For traveling on some Lithuanian roads with freight transport, a fee will have to be paid. The cost of traveling on toll roads depends on the type of vehicle and the distance it will travel on the toll road.

Aviation in Lithuania

The infrastructure for receiving aircraft allows for the delivery of cargo to Lithuania by air. There are a total of 6 airports in Lithuania located in the following cities:

1. Vilnius.
2. Kaunas.
3. Palanga.
4. Šiauliai.
5. Klaipėda.
6. Panevėžys.

The first 4 airports on the list are international.

Lithuanian infrastructure for water transport

In addition to maritime transport routes, Lithuania has navigable rivers, the main one being the Nemunas. The largest river ports in the country are located in:

1. Kaunas.
2. Rumšiškės.
3. Nida.
4. Juodkrantė.

The largest seaport in the country is Klaipėda. In addition to it, there are large ports in Butinge and Šventoji.

Railway communication in Lithuania

The majority of railway tracks were built in Lithuania during the Soviet era, which is undoubtedly a plus for importers, exporters, and transiters from CIS countries. The fact is that in most EU countries, the railway gauge is 1435 mm, while in CIS countries it is 1520 mm. When transporting cargo by rail to Poland, goods have to be transshipped en route. This problem is eliminated when transporting by rail in the Baltic countries.

The total length of the railway network in Lithuania is 1998 km, of which 169 km are narrow-gauge tracks. At the border with Poland, 22 km of tracks with a gauge of 1435 mm have been laid for transshipping cargo to rolling stock of European standard. Of the 1807 km of Lithuanian railway of standard gauge, 122 km are electrified.

Lithuanian exports abroad

About 40% of Lithuanian exports consist of agricultural products and their processing. This includes products such as coffee and bananas, which do not grow in Lithuania.

18% of exports are accounted for by machinery products. Lithuania produces energy equipment, agricultural machinery, and vehicles of various purposes.

12% of the export structure consists of scrap metal and products of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Oil and its processed products account for 11% of exports. The share of other goods is 7%.