Europe’s Big Build Needs Smarter Supply Chains

Mark Rosenberg, EVP Ports and Terminals, Europe at DP World, explains how smarter, connected supply chains can help Europe deliver on its infrastructure, energy and industrial ambitions.

From Issue 2, 2026 of Breakbulk Magazine.

Europe is entering a period of renewed investment in infrastructure, energy and industrial capability. Investment in infrastructure alone has grown from around €91 billion in 2014 to about €487 billion in 2025, according to McKinsey. Across the continent, governments and businesses are looking to modernize transport networks, accelerate the energy transition and strengthen regional supply chains.

It’s not a Simple Task

Despite recent growth, Europe’s construction sector shrunk by 2% last year, slowing civil infrastructure projects such as road and bridge upgrades. Its energy sector tells a similar story; according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the European Union (EU) invested nearly US$400 billion in clean energy last year, without matching the speed of infrastructural development. Its industrial economy, facing rising fuel prices and tightening carbon regulations, is also struggling to stay competitive.

This is not happening in isolation. Global trade is becoming less predictable. Supply chains are shorter, more regional and more complex. Goods no longer travel in a straight line from port to port, moving instead across multiple transport modes and borders.

When it comes to trade, Europe is facing challenges related to energy and the cost of goods, but an equally important issue is how goods move around the continent.

Europe needs supply chains that can safely handle large, complex cargo, such as wind turbines, generators and heavy machinery, while having them reach their destinations on time. In a multimodal system, success depends on how well these flows are connected and not just how efficiently they pass through a single point.

Europe’s Delivery Challenge

Europe’s industrial ambitions are putting pressure on the region’s breakbulk supply chains. At last year’s Breakbulk Europe main stage panel on overcoming bottlenecks, “bureaucracy” was cited as the biggest barrier to cargo flows. Edi Cioran, CEO of DP World Antwerp Gateway, went further, describing Europe’s urgent need for modernized, integrated breakbulk infrastructure to meet the demands of its energy sector alone.

Global disruption — from geopolitics to climate issues — is adding further strain as reflected in our Global Trade Observatory survey, which interviewed 3,500 supply chain decision makers. In this, customs and border control were highlighted as the main causes of disruption, while one of the top response strategies was to diversify supply chains to create more agility.

Reliable infrastructure has become ever more essential. And while ports are critical, they are only one part of the journey. Oversized cargo still needs to move inland, cross borders and reach their final destination. As supply chains evolve and adapt, the ability to connect maritime transport with rail, road and inland waterways is becoming the key advantage.

If Europe wants breakbulk to move with greater certainty, those who can deliver seamless multimodal solutions for customers will likely win the race.

Control Beyond the Port

Resilient breakbulk supply chains require specialized handling across multiple touchpoints. To keep this cargo moving smoothly, two things are essential:
• The right capacity and equipment to handle and transport large cargo.
• Digital systems that track cargo and simplify cross-border processes.

Demand for these integrated solutions is growing fast, with the multimodal transport market expected to expand to more than US$60 billion by 2032.

That is where our role becomes distinctive. Across Europe, we combine specialist breakbulk capabilities with ports, inland terminals and transport networks into one connected system. This helps our customers reduce gaps between port, border and destination.

Digital tools play a key role. Our proprietary systems like ZODIAC connect operations across breakbulk terminals and transport routes in real time, improving visibility, reducing delays and making the handling of complex, non-standard cargo more predictable.

But visibility alone is not enough. Breakbulk cargo needs a clear, reliable route from port to final destination. We connect our port operations with inland terminals and multimodal transport networks, linking road, rail and river corridors. For example, in Romania, our Constanta terminal works in tandem with the Aiud inland hub to move oversized cargo deeper into Europe with fewer hand-offs.

This is supported by centralized coordination. Our European Control Tower in Bucharest, supported by integrated services such as groupage, brings together road, maritime, air and rail transport into one system, improving planning and response times in times of disruption.

Preparing for What’s Next

As trade becomes more complex, reliability will define competitiveness. Ports will always matter. But what matters even more is how well they are connected. Ultimately, Europe’s success will depend on its ability to link transport modes, simplify processes and keep cargo moving, even during disruption.

DP World will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Europe 2026.