Port of Gdańsk strengthens its partnership with Asia. Business Mixer Follow-up in Vietnam and South Korea behind us
Poland’s largest seaport continues to strengthen its position with Asian markets. Following a series of successful Business Mixer events in Vietnam and South Korea, representatives of the Port of Gdańsk, led by President Dorota Pyć, held further business talks. The meetings confirmed that direct relations are key to the development of partnership in the logistics and maritime industries.
In autumn 2024, the Port of Gdańsk organised a Business Mixer in Vietnam. The event drew a lot of interest from both from Poland and Vietnam. Around 200 people from both countries, representing 123 companies, took part in the event.
The effects of the talks are already visible. The number of ships calling at Gdańsk from Vietnam in the first half of 2025 increased by 133%, with revenue from the tonnage fees increasing by 286%. Currently, 86% of Polish exports to Vietnam pass through the Port of Gdańsk. There is still potential in imports – currently, 54% of goods arrive in Poland via the Port of Gdańsk.
Follow-up Vietnam
The positive trend and further strengthening of the Port of Gdańsk’s position on the Asian market are supported by activities carried out as part of the Business Mixer Follow-up.
On 8 September, almost a year after the Business Mixer in Vietnam, representatives of the Port of Gdańsk met in Ho Chi Minh City with shipowners like MSC and CMA CGM. A few months ago, MSC, the global leader in container transport, launched two Asian services to Gdańsk – Britannia and Albatros, which make regular calls at ports in China, South Korea and Vietnam, as well as other ports. The French company, CMA CGM, has also been operating an extensive FAL1 line since 2023, served by the largest, 400-metre container ships.
The port representatives also met with the Vietnam Logistics Association and representatives of Polish companies operating in the local market, i.e. Davipharm, a member of the Adamed Group (a manufacturer of over 300 medicines distributed in Vietnam and the South-East Asia region) and Rockfin (a participant in Business Mixer 2024, which this year signed a partnership agreement with Vietnam’s Martech).
South Korea
On 10 September of this year, as part of the Business Mixer Follow-up in Seoul, representatives of the Port of Gdańsk held a series of talks with key local partners, including the Port of Busan, Sunjin Logistics, LX Pantos, Hyundai Glovis and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH).
It should be noted that the Port of Gdańsk Business Mixer in South Korea took place in 2023. The choice of this market was dictated by the significant volume of cargo destined for Europe, which until now has been handled mainly by other ports. The Port of Busan, the sixth largest container port in the world, became a natural partner for developing this partnership.
The results are impressive. The number of ocean-going vessels calling at Gdańsk from Korea in 2024 increased from 10 to 41, i.e. by 310%, while the tonnage fee revenue from the shipowner CMA CGM increased by as much as 347%.
Long-term strategy and next steps
‘From the very beginning, the Business Mixer concept had one goal: to be a platform that does not stop at dialogue, but transforms conversations into concrete business results. This approach has already brought us measurable results on many occasions – both in establishing new partnerships and in developing existing ones. This year we continue this mission by bringing Polish and Korean companies from the logistics, freight forwarding, automotive and warehouse development industries even closer together’, said Dorota Pyć, President of the Port of Gdańsk.
And on 27 November, the Port of Gdańsk invites you to Japan, as this year’s edition of the Port of Gdańsk Business Mixer is to take place in Tokyo.
