ONE launches service connecting Port of Riga to Portugal
Ocean Network Express (ONE) has launched the Iberia Baltic Express (IBX), a new weekly container shipping service that includes a call at the Port of Riga. This marks a historic milestone for the Port of Riga, establishing its first-ever direct shipping connection with Portuguese ports.
The IBX service significantly enhances ONE’s regional network, offering Latvian exporters and importers unprecedented access to both European and global markets. The service’s rotation includes calls at Leixões, Lisbon, Southampton, Rotterdam, Gdańsk, Riga, Klaipėda, Gdynia, Bremerhaven, and back to Leixões, with a weekly stop in Riga.
Estimated transit times for the IBX are approximately one week from Portuguese ports to Riga, and around four days from Rotterdam to Riga. This new service builds upon ONE’s existing Baltic presence, which commenced in January 2025 with the Baltic Bridge Express, linking Baltic and Finnish ports to Rotterdam. The IBX represents a substantial expansion of this footprint, incorporating Portugal, the United Kingdom, and additional European hubs into ONE’s regional offerings.
The Port of Riga, Latvia’s sole port with regular container shipping lines and specialized container terminals, is currently served by nine international container vessels operating on eleven routes—a record for the port. In 2025, Riga handled 495,700 TEUs, accounting for 98% of all container cargo managed across Latvian ports. Containers constitute approximately 30% of the port’s total cargo portfolio and are a strategic priority for development. The introduction of the IBX service significantly increases the frequency and geographic reach of the port’s container network.