From Crisis to Resilience: The Port of Klaipeda and the Reshaping of Baltic Trade Flows (2014-2023)

ABSTRACT: Geopolitical tensions on the European Union's eastern borders are profoundly reshaping trade flows and logistics chain organization. Through the study of the port of Klaipeda (Lithuania), this article analyses the impact of successive crises (Russian-Ukrainian conflict since 2014, tensions with Belarus in 2020-2021, war in Ukraine since 2022) on the activity of a major port in the eastern Baltic. Based on quantitative traffic data (2010-2023), AIS data and interviews with port stakeholders, this research highlights a triple dynamic: the disruption of traditional East-West flows, particularly for hydrocarbons and fertilizers; the emergence of new North-South trade routes; and the accelerated diversification of port activities. The results demonstrate the port's adaptation capacity to geopolitical shocks while emphasizing its structural vulnerability in an unstable regional context. This study contributes to understanding the interactions between geopolitics and port geography in European border areas.

KEYWORDS: Cargo Handling, Maritime Transport, Baltic Sea, Port Development, Container Traffic, Logistics Chain, Geopolitics, Energy Security

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Citation note:

Serry A.: From Crisis to Resilience: The Port of Klaipeda and the Reshaping of Baltic Trade Flows (2014-2023). TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, Vol. 19, No. 1, doi:10.12716/1001.19.01.16, pp. 135-142, 2025

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Polish Container Ports, New Baltic Hubs?

Journal Vol. 17 No. 2 - June 2023

A. Serry

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