2026 set to be a very good year
“2026 is shaping up to be a very good year in terms of cargo throughput and turnover,” Thessaloniki Port Authority (OLTH) CEO Dr Ioannis Tsaras said, speaking at Naftemporiki’s 2nd N-TIF Forum.
He added that the picture at the container terminal was particularly positive. Container throughput is rising by around 5% month-on-month, while in some months the increase has reached as much as 7%, he explained.
According to Tsaras, the development reflects “steady reliability in port operations”, particularly at OLTH’s container terminal.
Referring to the conventional cargo port, Tsaras said the decline in cargo throughput had eased, attributing the trend to reduced activity at major industrial facilities in the wider region. “These are mainly older and highly energy-intensive steelmaking plants, which used Thessaloniki port to handle raw materials or finished products to and from the markets of North Macedonia and Bulgaria,” he said.
The OLTH CEO also highlighted the difficulty of attracting new cargo and establishing long-term planning, as activity at certain industries remains subdued. He said there were expectations that some of these facilities would resume operations as they “are waiting for better energy pricing”.
Rail and road links to OLTH
On the progress of the railway connection between Thessaloniki port and the suburban railway network, Tsaras said the state had fully recognised the importance of linking the port to the railway network and was working systematically with the relevant minister to advance the project.
He said these efforts had reached a point where there was optimism about the project’s progress, noting that “the suburban railway and the connection to Thessaloniki port are on a very good track”.
He added that either a contractor had already been selected or the process of selecting one was very close to completion.
According to the OLTH CEO, provided there are no major obstacles, the project could move forward on an accelerated timetable, with its completion expected to coincide with the expansion of the port’s quay.
As for the road connection, Tsaras said the issue was more complex. Following the withdrawal of Egnatia Odos SA from its construction responsibilities, he explained, “there is no project owner”, making it more difficult to advance the relevant road contract.
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