The Closure of ‘Paternieki’ Hits Carriers: Cargo is Urgently Transferred to Neighbors 0 76

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As reported by the representative of the Road Transport Directorate (ATD) Viktor Zakis, Latvian transport companies are already negotiating with Lithuanian and Polish carriers who could take over the cargo and continue its delivery.

According to ATD, in the first seven months of this year, 12,803 trucks with goods were registered at the ‘Paternieki’ border crossing. At the time of the closure of the crossing, there were 179 active bookings for trucks with cargo. Now carriers will have to reissue accompanying documents or look for alternative ways to fulfill contracts.

The main direction of transport through ‘Paternieki’ was the delivery of goods to Central Asian countries, where Latvian companies transferred them to subsequent carriers.

“The closure of the border crossing will undoubtedly impact the international road transport industry. Latvian carriers are already actively seeking partners in Lithuania and Poland who can take on part of the transportation to reduce financial losses and ensure the fulfillment of deliveries,” noted Zakis.

Earlier, the Latvian Ministry of the Interior proposed to the government to officially suspend the operation of the ‘Paternieki’ border crossing. If this decision is approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, crossing the Latvian-Belarusian border at this point will become impossible for both passengers and freight transport.

‘Paternieki’ remains the only road border crossing on the Latvia-Belarus border. Only the railway border crossing in Indra continues to operate, which is used exclusively by freight trains.

The draft government decision is being considered urgently. The Ministry of the Interior explains the necessity of closing the crossing by tasks related to strengthening national security, more effective counteraction to illegal migration, and rational use of the resources of the State Border Guard.

The ministry also reminds that Belarus continues to facilitate attempts to illegally cross the external border of the European Union, creating additional pressure on Latvian services.

At the same time, it was previously reported that since July 31, there have been technical problems with information systems at the ‘Paternieki’ crossing, making border control impossible. The State Border Guard recommends using the Mēdiņi and Šalčininkai border crossings on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border if necessary.

It should be noted that Latvia has extended the enhanced border security regime with Belarus until the end of the year due to the ongoing migration pressure. In addition, the State Security Service has repeatedly recommended that residents of the country refrain from traveling to Russia and Belarus, warning of high risks of recruitment, espionage activities, and various provocations.

The closure of ‘Paternieki’ could significantly change the logistics of international freight transport through Latvia. While carriers are trying to quickly restructure their routes, the final consequences for the industry will depend on how long the restriction on the operation of the only road crossing on the Belarusian border remains in place.