SPECIAL REPORT:
14
Report 3Special n istics competitio space seen. Lack of logistics see a brisk business. Logistics centers
BBJ
16
catch log Hungary tries to
Logistics
Hauling supplies
in Audi Hungary’s
logistics center,
is Although the country well located for there East-West trade, is limited logisticsand space in Hungary the less activity in might sector than there be, experts say.
which the company
built for its own
use. The automotive
to when it comes advantages as Hungary Regional estate and labor. affordable real when it fierce, especially 14-15). competition is space (see pages comes to logistics though, Despite this competition, logistics should be more experts say there country. activity in this
Budapest
industry has increased
the need for logistics
demands “The largest logistics the originate from within within European Union, and largest this Germany, Hungary’s trading partner.”
services in this
country, but thus
heavy the system poses complaints that burdens on companies. administrative Doór, the negative But according to has on the sector is impact that EKÁER changed regulation has negligible. “The its introduction, significantly since burden on companies making the current said. “If we were to he more bearable,” then we could say quantify its impact, the type of company, on that, depending created by the the additional coststo approximately the regulation amount employee for every wage of one additional turnover.” in billion 2 HUF
living up to its potential. the sector is not in the pipeline to sqm. Plans are also by rail in logistics center million development connect the Audi in Ingolstadt, realizing a €10 Doór explained. directly to the headquarters the same area,” to a press release to shifting freight Germany, according last fall, which Intermodality refers of transport, such issued by the company employs rail from various modesto train, and the its said that Audi currently as going from ship measure, to meet smoothly and quickly and road in equal ability to do this logistics. logistics needs. is essential to effective improvements, been Along with these incentives have Breakdown by category recent government aim of improving the is road introduced with including support logistics mode – Hungary’s prime more than 70% competitiveness drivers, reducing traffic, which handledaccording to Doór. for training truck 2014, burdens and making of transport in is that administration a priority, this large share “The reason for infrastructure investments provides door-to-door Doór believes that road transport he said. according to reports. could go be most flexibly,” quite service an increase in wages competitiveness network in Hungary In fact the road effective in improving extensive in the the labor pool. is one of the most and deepening logistics sector European Union. the share of rail For lack of a largercompanies are estimates Doór private is in Hungary, about 18%, which link own logistics centers, transport to be developing their Hungary’s direct improving levels interesting given and its region is with the goal of Group invested for to China. “Záhony a of service. MEC reloading center development of the junction and railways HUF 1 bln in the in logistics center European standard-gauge pharmaceutical system of the CIS Hell Energy Drinks and the wide-gauge Budapest, and to the HIPA report. a capacity states,” according waterway company has undergone center logistics Despite excellent rest of Europe, the expansion at its the Hungary, connections with in Hungary is in Szikszó, northeastern share of water transport on the according to Doór. 4%, depending to handle its between 2% and Audi has also elected Danube, Doór said.and locally. water level of the natural gas own logistics needs company channeling the Pipelines, account for In September, center 10 bln logistics other fuels or chemicals,he added. inaugurated a HUF a carbon in Győr. And it’s 80,000 about 10% of transport, near its factory to boot, spanning neutral building
far, experts say,
Desirable In early 2015, in report published behind its neighbors. of 1,800,000 sqm According to a a total and Eyefortransport Hungary listed space, while Poland February by Prologis Real Estate Networkfifth in logistic-center and Czech Republic in-house logistics entitled “Logistics sqm was ranked the Improvements and had 8,800,000 report Expansion”, Budapest center among according to a not as logistics that Hungary is 4,800,000 sqm, most desirable Hungarian Investment Critics have argued its neighbors and that published by the (HIPA) last year. as CEE countries. business friendly of the Hungarian effect on the demand Promotion Agencychallenges facing this Zoltán Doór, president ANIKO FENYVESI this has had a direct providers, noted that There are three logistics service to Doór. “Firstly, Logistics Association, more for the country’s especially carmakers, country, according centers in Hungary problem might have to Germany and manufacturers, economy, but Doór said the major developments on With its proximity the Hungarian operating logistics of and the Balkans, are are essential to secondly, the main to do with a lack borders with Ukraine market in recent major manufacturers well positioned is not cheap and, centers are situated but none of the That means the foreign the Hungarian logistics up, however, and Hungary is geographicallyEast and West. European logistics looking between and this situation Hungarian firms. goods in years. Things are to facilitate trade environment could here must ship northeast of Hungary by 2020,” he said. encourage firms producing a more stable regulatory so they create a That situation should become permanent in this main country, the process. may the of business out and is historical: The certainly help alongperiod of stabilization a booming logistics outside “The third reason a sector is indeed 5% demand for logistics. providers are were established “This has been country, and the service Vienna, logistics centers up the sector. There more than “Local logistics Bratislava, Kosice, and for building breakthroughs in and storing important, contributing of Hungary, in by some estimates. responsible for moving and parts, and has been no major although two to Hungary’s GDP by the Arad and Temesvár.” administrative raw materials either, report published these, inventories, a to from developments in the derived One is the According Many have criticized of the logistics Statistical Office to the finished products trends can be identified: by developer state-run Central Hungarian logistics of the raw materials burdens as weakening the EKÁER of from the source instance Kft. in increase in intermodality in fall, the revenue he said. “The largest sector here. For as Ekol Logistics HUF 1.085 trillion vehicles hauling the end consumer,”originate from within the port) companies, such companies reached of 2015. system, which tracks effect last year, and is Szabadkikötő (free is also demands logistics Germany, Budapesti quarter into this the came second which within and the and Kft., valuegoods logistics business European Union, authorities collect been and Metrans Danubia But the domestic trading partner.” according meant to help tax have so much more, Hungary’s largest imports. There region could be doing developments and added taxes on countries in the trailing Despite steady to analysts. Otherplaced to facilitate Hungary is still growing demand, same are similarly well and they have the East-West trade,
THE LOGISTICS BUSINESS
BUSINESS JOURNAL BUDAPEST
VOL. 24. NUMBER 06
MARCH 25, 2016 – APRIL 7, 2016
HUNGARY’S PRACTICAL BUSINESS BI-WEEKLY SINCE 1992 | WWW.BBJ.HU
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Bringing them to Hungary
NEWS
Teachers make gains, but still plan strike Although the government agreed to get rid of KLIK, the central authority that runs schools and dictates the national curriculum, the concession did not appear to be sufficient to prevent a March 30 strike. 7
SPECIAL REPORT
Logistics potential left unrealized Hungary is well-situated to become a logistics hub facilitating trade between East and West, but thus far our CEE neighbors seem to be doing better at cashing in on the possibilities. 12
NEWS
Rate cut catches analysts by surprise The central bank had said it would continue to ease the money supply, and cut interest some time soon, but market watchers were caught flat-footed when the base rate was slashed to 1.2%. 3
BUSINESS
NEWS
Getting noticed on the French Riviera
‘Easy money’ from EU is over, Lázár warns
Hungarian real estate is back on the radar of investors, judging by the enthusiasm seen at MIPIM, the biggest commercial property expo in Europe. Hungary set up an official stand there for the first time in years. 11
The cabinet chief acknowledged that the boost to GDP growth Hungary experienced last year will be not be as strong, and said the country must find other ways to stimulate spending, especially after 2020. 6
WE MOVED Váci 1 Building, 1052 Bp., Türr István u. 8.
DVM we moved 77x55 v3.indd 1
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see page 11
Photo: Mátyás Pödőr
HIPA President Róbert Ésik is responsible for helping foreign firms invest here. After a record number of projects last year, he expects even more for 2016. 10
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2016. 03. 23. 20:07