Schenker Opens EUR 10 M Logistics Terminal near Bulgaria's Sofia

(L-R) Bozhurishte Mayor Asparuh Asparuhov, Schenker Bulgaria manager Helmut Schweighoffer, German Ambassador to Bulgaria Matthias Hoepfner, and Chairman of Schenker Austria Elmar Wieland opened the new logistics terminal. Photo by Expert Business Group

German logistics company Schenker AG, which is a subsidiary of railway carrier Deutsche Bahn, has opened a new terminal outside of the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

Schenker EOOD, the company’s Bulgarian branch, has invested EUR 10 M in the new logistics complex located in the town of Bozhurishte, some 20 minutes away from Sofia.

In addition to senior managers of Schenker, the opening ceremony was attended by German Ambassador to Bulgaria, Matthias Hoepfner.

“Despite the harsh economic realities, DB Schenker has invested in this new terminal in order to provide business in and outside Bulgaria with top-class logistics services. The new terminal is fully integrated in the European and global network of DB Schenker, and will function in Bulgaria as a redistribution center for international transport, internal distribution, and contract logistics,” explained Helmut Schweighoffer, manager of Schenker EOOD.

The new Schenker facility outside Sofia is located on an area of 48 000 square meters. It features a logistics storehouse with an area of 3 000 square meters, and a loading hall of 2 000 square meters equipped with the latest technology in the logistics field.

It also includes an office complex of 3 500 square meters where Schenker Bulgaria will be headquartered from now on. However, the German company is also going to keep its existing office near the Sofia Airport.

The logistics center has good access to road and railway transportation (it includes two railway lines), and to the Sofia International Airport.

“The trend that we see in the recent years – especially with the large commercial chains – is in the direction of intermodel logistics solution. With these railway lines of our own, we are meeting this demand,” said Schweighoffer.

“The new supermodern terminal near Sofia is an important addition to the thick European network of DB Schenker including over 700 branches. For us, Bulgaria is an important market, and with this new facility we will continue to offer high-quality services,” stated Elmar Wieland, Chairman of Schenker & Co AG (Vienna).

He has pointed out that the new Sofia logistics terminal is helping DB Schenker to continue realizing its program for modernization in the region of Southeast Europe, including, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, the former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus. Schenker EOOD employes 150 people in Bulgaria.

The Schenker managers have pointed out the potential for growth of railway transport and contract logistics in Bulgaria.

They said that together with the Greek port of Thessaloniki, the port of Varna is also crucial for Bulgaria.

“During the strike of the Greek port workers in Thessaloniki in 2008, Varna proved its potential for container transport. The capacity of the Port of Varna has a big potential for increasing cargo traffic which comes mostly from China and the rest of Asia,” expained Schweighoffer.

The Schenker managers also said that much of Bulgaria’s air-borne import at the Sofia Airport passes through Vienna, and that it originates mostly in Asia, the USA, and South America.

Schenker’s first Bulgarian branch was opened in 1889. Its Bulgarian activity was restarted in 1993. In 2008, Schenker Bulgaria transported a total of 322 700 metric tons of cargo, of which 147 700 metric tons was through road transport, followed by air, sea, and railway.

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