Ventspils, Latvia
Sea freight in Ventspils
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Ventspils, via Freeport of Ventspils. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
Airports, seaports and connections in Ventspils
- AirportRiga
RIX - SeaportFreeport of Ventspilsice-free
Ventspils is a port city first and foremost. The Freeport of Ventspils, at the mouth of the Venta river, is ice-free throughout the year and has special customs status, which makes it a year-round option on the Baltic coast for bulk and general cargo. The local airport has no meaningful cargo operations, so air freight to and from Ventspils runs via Riga International Airport (RIX), roughly 190 km away by road. We collect cargo in Ventspils and truck it to RIX, or to a larger European hub where the routing makes more sense, using air freight through our airline network.
The A10 motorway (part of route E22) links Ventspils with Riga, and a rail line connects the port with the Latvian broad-gauge network and onward transit routes. Regional roads lead south towards Liepaja and the Lithuanian border. For full container loads, combining sea freight through the port with road distribution via Riga is the usual setup for the Kurzeme region.
Operational logistics facts for Ventspils
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Freeport of Ventspils | Bulk, general cargo and wood products | Ice-free port that stays open all year |
| Freeport special customs status | Storage and processing under customs control | Duties can be deferred until goods leave the freeport area |
| A10 / E22 road to Riga | Trucking to Riga and Riga International Airport (RIX) | Air freight access through Latvia's main airport |
| Rail connection to the port | Bulk and transit flows by rail | Links the port with Latvia's rail network |
Industries in Ventspils and how we support them
Ventspils has built its economy around transit, bulk cargo handling and the wood industry, including timber products and wood pellets shipped by sea. Alongside the port, the city promotes manufacturing and technology businesses in its industrial areas under the freeport's special customs and tax regime. For these companies we arrange sea freight through the Freeport of Ventspils or Riga, road freight to Scandinavian and Central European customers, and air freight via RIX for spare parts and urgent components. Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier are available when a production stop has to be avoided.
From the port to your door in Ventspils
We arrange collection of the container or the LCL cargo at Freeport of Ventspils, customs clearance and delivery to your site in the Ventspils area. For exports we organise the pick-up and the delivery to the terminal before the cut-off.
Customs clearance in Latvia
Own clearance in preparation
We are setting up our own customs clearance in Latvia. Until it is in place, clearance is coordinated by our in-house customs teams in neighbouring markets.
Air freight to and from Latvia is booked through our carrier network.
Importers in Latvia need an EORI number issued by the Latvian State Revenue Service.
Frequently asked questions
Which port is used for sea freight to and from Ventspils?
Usually Freeport of Ventspils. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.