Chinese carmakers BYD and Leapmotor unload 2,338 vehicles at Rijeka port

Chinese automakers are increasing their foothold in Europe, and the Croatian port of Rijeka has become a growing entry point for their imports. On Friday the ro-ro vessel Grand Benelux delivered and unloaded 2,338 cars at Rijeka, among them 1,819 built by BYD and 519 by Leapmotor, port management confirmed.

Ship details and a first-time stop

The Grand Benelux, owned by the Italian Grimaldi shipping group, is 176.5 metres long and 31.1 metres wide, with a vehicle-carrying capacity of about 4,600 units. The ship was built in 2001 at the Uljanik shipyard and sails under the Italian flag. This was the first time vehicles from both BYD and Leapmotor were unloaded at Rijeka, according to Marko Miškovic, a member of the port management.

Rijeka has been steadily expanding its automotive handling business. In the first half of 2026 the port transshipped more than 22,000 vehicles, and officials expect the annual total to reach at least 60,000 by the end of the year.

The port’s leadership aims even higher, planning to grow annual throughput to 100,000 cars and light commercial vehicles. To reach that goal, they are considering new investments in infrastructure, including a multifunctional terminal that would add 50,000 square metres of port area and repurposing existing terminals in the Bakar Bay.

Rijeka already handles vehicles from European manufacturers such as Fiat, Peugeot, Citroën and Opel, and this year began imports of Chinese marques Omoda and Jeke. The arrival of large shipments from BYD and Leapmotor underscores Rijeka’s increasing role in the logistics chains through which Chinese automakers supply European markets.

Photo: novilist.hr