Fokker Next Gen Latvia: What Was Promised, What Happened, and Why the Project Quietly Ended
News trigger: Latvia’s much-publicised hydrogen aircraft project is being liquidated
On 1 December 2025, the Latvian Business Register recorded the start of liquidation proceedings for SIA “Fokker Next Gen Latvia” — the company that, since early 2024, had been promoted as the future producer of Europe’s first liquid-hydrogen passenger aircraft.
The project generated significant attention in 2023–2024:
plans for a 120–150-seat hydrogen aircraft,
a proposed manufacturing line in Liepāja,
cooperation with RTU,
up to 100 new jobs,
a government memorandum,
and months of positive media coverage positioning it as a major innovation breakthrough for Latvia.
By late 2025, instead of aircraft assembly or engineering hires, the only development was the liquidation notice.
This raised the obvious question: what actually happened?
What Latvia was told to expect
According to LIAA materials, government statements and Fokker’s own communications (2023–2024), the project was framed as a major strategic investment:
a next-generation hydrogen aircraft with 120–150 seats,
a flight range of up to 2,500 km,
up to 100 new jobs in the first three years,
academic cooperation with RTU,
production and maintenance facilities in Liepāja,
and, in later media reports, even long-term potential for up to 800 jobs.
For Latvia, this was marketed as an entry into the green aviation industry — a rare opportunity for a region without an aerospace manufacturing base.
What the Latvian company really looked like
Public records (Firmas.lv) for Fokker Next Gen Latvia show a very different picture:
registered 16 February 2024,
share capital: €2,800,
employees: 1,
revenue: 0,
fixed assets: €3,944,
administrative expenses: ~€135,000.
These expenses were not operational losses — the company conducted no activity.
They were typical startup administrative costs (legal services, accounting, consultancy, internal project preparation), most of which likely flowed back to the Dutch parent through intra-group invoicing.
In other words, the Latvian entity was a project vehicle, not a factory.
Meanwhile in the Netherlands: the real project direction emerged
While Latvia was presenting the project as a future industrial anchor, developments in the Netherlands showed where Fokker’s actual priorities lay.
Groningen MoU (30 September 2024)
Fokker Next Gen signed a memorandum with the Northern Netherlands (Groningen Airport Eelde, regional authorities, educational and hydrogen infrastructure partners).
The document outlined:
a possible headquarters location,
a final assembly line (FAL) for the hydrogen aircraft,
integration with the Netherlands’ hydrogen ecosystem,
training pipelines and R&D clusters.
Latvia still appeared in this narrative — but now only as a “production line” somewhere in the wider hydrogen value chain, not the central site.
Partnership with ASL Aviation
Testing, certification and development activities gravitated toward the NL/BE aerospace environment.
By 2025, Latvia vanished from Fokker’s public communications
No news of engineers hired, no land secured in Liepāja, no procurement, no infrastructure preparation.
All visible momentum shifted toward the Dutch cluster.
Why the Latvian project never started
Several structural factors made the advertised plan unrealistic:
1) Latvia lacks an aerospace manufacturing ecosystem
No certification bodies, no hydrogen aircraft testbeds, no specialist suppliers, no engineering schools in this field.
Building a large commercial aircraft in such an environment was never viable.
2) Latvia helped Fokker strengthen its EU funding profile
In EU programmes like Clean Aviation and Horizon Europe, cross-border presence and cohesion-state participation increase project evaluation scores.
A Latvian SPV offered:
geographic expansion,
political endorsement,
positive PR in multiple Member States,
stronger optics for grant applications.( Continuation in Part 2 (next post))
News trigger: Latvia’s much-publicised hydrogen aircraft project is being liquidated
On 1 December 2025, the Latvian Business Register recorded the start of liquidation proceedings for SIA “Fokker Next Gen Latvia” — the company that, since early 2024, had been promoted as the future producer of Europe’s first liquid-hydrogen passenger aircraft.
The project generated significant attention in 2023–2024:
plans for a 120–150-seat hydrogen aircraft,
a proposed manufacturing line in Liepāja,
cooperation with RTU,
up to 100 new jobs,
a government memorandum,
and months of positive media coverage positioning it as a major innovation breakthrough for Latvia.
By late 2025, instead of aircraft assembly or engineering hires, the only development was the liquidation notice.
This raised the obvious question: what actually happened?
What Latvia was told to expect
According to LIAA materials, government statements and Fokker’s own communications (2023–2024), the project was framed as a major strategic investment:
a next-generation hydrogen aircraft with 120–150 seats,
a flight range of up to 2,500 km,
up to 100 new jobs in the first three years,
academic cooperation with RTU,
production and maintenance facilities in Liepāja,
and, in later media reports, even long-term potential for up to 800 jobs.
For Latvia, this was marketed as an entry into the green aviation industry — a rare opportunity for a region without an aerospace manufacturing base.
What the Latvian company really looked like
Public records (Firmas.lv) for Fokker Next Gen Latvia show a very different picture:
registered 16 February 2024,
share capital: €2,800,
employees: 1,
revenue: 0,
fixed assets: €3,944,
administrative expenses: ~€135,000.
These expenses were not operational losses — the company conducted no activity.
They were typical startup administrative costs (legal services, accounting, consultancy, internal project preparation), most of which likely flowed back to the Dutch parent through intra-group invoicing.
In other words, the Latvian entity was a project vehicle, not a factory.
Meanwhile in the Netherlands: the real project direction emerged
While Latvia was presenting the project as a future industrial anchor, developments in the Netherlands showed where Fokker’s actual priorities lay.
Groningen MoU (30 September 2024)
Fokker Next Gen signed a memorandum with the Northern Netherlands (Groningen Airport Eelde, regional authorities, educational and hydrogen infrastructure partners).
The document outlined:
a possible headquarters location,
a final assembly line (FAL) for the hydrogen aircraft,
integration with the Netherlands’ hydrogen ecosystem,
training pipelines and R&D clusters.
Latvia still appeared in this narrative — but now only as a “production line” somewhere in the wider hydrogen value chain, not the central site.
Partnership with ASL Aviation
Testing, certification and development activities gravitated toward the NL/BE aerospace environment.
By 2025, Latvia vanished from Fokker’s public communications
No news of engineers hired, no land secured in Liepāja, no procurement, no infrastructure preparation.
All visible momentum shifted toward the Dutch cluster.
Why the Latvian project never started
Several structural factors made the advertised plan unrealistic:
1) Latvia lacks an aerospace manufacturing ecosystem
No certification bodies, no hydrogen aircraft testbeds, no specialist suppliers, no engineering schools in this field.
Building a large commercial aircraft in such an environment was never viable.
2) Latvia helped Fokker strengthen its EU funding profile
In EU programmes like Clean Aviation and Horizon Europe, cross-border presence and cohesion-state participation increase project evaluation scores.
A Latvian SPV offered:
geographic expansion,
political endorsement,
positive PR in multiple Member States,
stronger optics for grant applications.( Continuation in Part 2 (next post))
3) The project in Latvia existed mainly on paper
Signs:
minimal capital,
no equipment,
no team,
no physical preparation.
The project lived in presentations, not in engineering space.
About the €135k: not a loss, but internal billing
The widely reported €135k in expenses represents:
legal services,
accounting,
consultancy,
project documentation,
intra-group management fees.
These are typical costs for a non-operational SPV.
Economically, the money likely returned to the parent company.
Latvia did not lose budget funds — but it also did not gain anything tangible.
Why Latvia was left with an empty shell
Because the country provided:
political visibility,
a new jurisdiction for PR,
a narrative of expansion into Eastern EU,
and improved European optics for Fokker’s applications…
…but received no industrial activity, no assets, no jobs, no ecosystem development.
Latvia functioned as a booster for a larger project that ultimately located itself in the Netherlands.
What this case shows systemically
MoUs are not investments.
A memorandum without capital, staff or procurement is a political gesture, not the start of a factory.
A €2,800 SPV cannot anchor an aerospace project.
The basic numbers already indicated low commitment.
High-tech projects go where ecosystems exist.
The Netherlands has hydrogen infrastructure, suppliers, and certification partners; Latvia does not.
Small states are often used as “funding enhancers”.
Cohesion countries improve EU project scores — but are not always part of the real industrial plan.
What Latvia can learn from this
1. Require material commitments before public promotion
Capital, staffing, equipment — not just a press release.
2. Tie MoUs to concrete deliverables and deadlines
If no progress is made within 12–18 months, the “strategic project” status should lapse.
3. Use technical due diligence from local experts
RTU, LMT, SAF Tehnika and others can assess feasibility early on.
4. Build on sectors where Latvia has real industrial strength
ICT, drones, sensors, cybersecurity, materials, agritech — not heavy aerospace manufacturing.
Conclusion
The liquidation of Fokker Next Gen Latvia is not a scandal — it is a predictable outcome of a project that never progressed beyond the PR stage.
Fokker consolidated its efforts in the Netherlands, where the ecosystem, funding access and technical capacity truly exist.
Latvia, meanwhile, served as a symbolic extension point — useful for European optics, but never intended as the core of the programme.
The key lesson is simple:
Announced projects are not real projects until capital, staff and infrastructure appear.
Latvia did not suffer financial losses — but it did lose time, expectations and part of its credibility in the innovation narrative.#BalticFocus #BSM2025 #BalticSignals #RegionalAnalysis
Signs:
minimal capital,
no equipment,
no team,
no physical preparation.
The project lived in presentations, not in engineering space.
About the €135k: not a loss, but internal billing
The widely reported €135k in expenses represents:
legal services,
accounting,
consultancy,
project documentation,
intra-group management fees.
These are typical costs for a non-operational SPV.
Economically, the money likely returned to the parent company.
Latvia did not lose budget funds — but it also did not gain anything tangible.
Why Latvia was left with an empty shell
Because the country provided:
political visibility,
a new jurisdiction for PR,
a narrative of expansion into Eastern EU,
and improved European optics for Fokker’s applications…
…but received no industrial activity, no assets, no jobs, no ecosystem development.
Latvia functioned as a booster for a larger project that ultimately located itself in the Netherlands.
What this case shows systemically
MoUs are not investments.
A memorandum without capital, staff or procurement is a political gesture, not the start of a factory.
A €2,800 SPV cannot anchor an aerospace project.
The basic numbers already indicated low commitment.
High-tech projects go where ecosystems exist.
The Netherlands has hydrogen infrastructure, suppliers, and certification partners; Latvia does not.
Small states are often used as “funding enhancers”.
Cohesion countries improve EU project scores — but are not always part of the real industrial plan.
What Latvia can learn from this
1. Require material commitments before public promotion
Capital, staffing, equipment — not just a press release.
2. Tie MoUs to concrete deliverables and deadlines
If no progress is made within 12–18 months, the “strategic project” status should lapse.
3. Use technical due diligence from local experts
RTU, LMT, SAF Tehnika and others can assess feasibility early on.
4. Build on sectors where Latvia has real industrial strength
ICT, drones, sensors, cybersecurity, materials, agritech — not heavy aerospace manufacturing.
Conclusion
The liquidation of Fokker Next Gen Latvia is not a scandal — it is a predictable outcome of a project that never progressed beyond the PR stage.
Fokker consolidated its efforts in the Netherlands, where the ecosystem, funding access and technical capacity truly exist.
Latvia, meanwhile, served as a symbolic extension point — useful for European optics, but never intended as the core of the programme.
The key lesson is simple:
Announced projects are not real projects until capital, staff and infrastructure appear.
Latvia did not suffer financial losses — but it did lose time, expectations and part of its credibility in the innovation narrative.#BalticFocus #BSM2025 #BalticSignals #RegionalAnalysis
⭐️ airBaltic: Fitch downgrade, a new Airbus delivery — and a financial structure that leaves no room for illusions
Fitch’s decision to cut airBaltic’s rating to CCC+ marks a turning point that markets anticipated, but policymakers did not.
The downgrade signals one thing very clearly: the airline will require substantial external financing within the next 12 months. Not for growth — for liquidity.
1) A new Airbus A220-300 delivered the very next day
The arrival of the 51st A220-300 looks like a success milestone, but analysts read it differently:
the airline continues to absorb expensive long-term commitments at a time when its own capital base is under strain.
These deliveries are not optional — they are contractual. airBaltic cannot simply “pause” them without political or legal consequences.
Result: the fleet grows, while the balance sheet weakens.
2) A structure that has become risky
airBaltic now depends on three reinforcing pressure points:
Expensive debt: outstanding bonds with a 14.5% coupon — not market-rate financing but a distressed instrument from the moment of issuance.
ACMI dependence: a meaningful part of the fleet operates not in the Latvian market but for Lufthansa under wet-lease agreements. This provides revenue but reduces strategic autonomy and makes airBaltic a capacity provider rather than a market shaper.
Aircraft delivery schedule: Airbus contracts leave little room for maneuver — commitments must be honoured even when liquidity is tight.
3) Market chatter: €180–220 million needed
Fitch mentions €180 million in capital needs, but informal market estimates reach €220+ million.
Reasons:
ongoing engine issues related to PW1500G;
recurring aircraft downtime;
operating costs rising faster than revenue;
nine-month 2025 cash flow slightly positive but insufficient to service debt and cover future deliveries.
4) IPO in 2026: now off the table
A CCC+ rating effectively closes the IPO window.
To restart investor discussions, the airline would need:
lower leverage,
stable profitability,
positive free cash flow,
a clear and credible fleet-financing model.
None of these conditions is met today.
5) What comes next? Three realistic scenarios
A new capital injection by the Latvian state and Lufthansa to stabilise liquidity.
Restructuring of part of the debt and/or aircraft financing schedule.
Further expansion of ACMI operations, pushing airBaltic toward a Baltic capacity-provider model rather than a full-scale national carrier.
⭐️ Conclusion
airBaltic is not “in crisis” — it is already in a post-crisis correction phase, where liquidity, contractual inertia, and fleet obligations dictate more than strategy.
Fitch’s downgrade simply formalises what markets have understood for months:
without a significant capital injection, airBaltic will become financially unstable in the near term.#airBaltic
#A220
#FitchRatings
#CreditRisk
#AviationFinance #BSM2025
Fitch’s decision to cut airBaltic’s rating to CCC+ marks a turning point that markets anticipated, but policymakers did not.
The downgrade signals one thing very clearly: the airline will require substantial external financing within the next 12 months. Not for growth — for liquidity.
1) A new Airbus A220-300 delivered the very next day
The arrival of the 51st A220-300 looks like a success milestone, but analysts read it differently:
the airline continues to absorb expensive long-term commitments at a time when its own capital base is under strain.
These deliveries are not optional — they are contractual. airBaltic cannot simply “pause” them without political or legal consequences.
Result: the fleet grows, while the balance sheet weakens.
2) A structure that has become risky
airBaltic now depends on three reinforcing pressure points:
Expensive debt: outstanding bonds with a 14.5% coupon — not market-rate financing but a distressed instrument from the moment of issuance.
ACMI dependence: a meaningful part of the fleet operates not in the Latvian market but for Lufthansa under wet-lease agreements. This provides revenue but reduces strategic autonomy and makes airBaltic a capacity provider rather than a market shaper.
Aircraft delivery schedule: Airbus contracts leave little room for maneuver — commitments must be honoured even when liquidity is tight.
3) Market chatter: €180–220 million needed
Fitch mentions €180 million in capital needs, but informal market estimates reach €220+ million.
Reasons:
ongoing engine issues related to PW1500G;
recurring aircraft downtime;
operating costs rising faster than revenue;
nine-month 2025 cash flow slightly positive but insufficient to service debt and cover future deliveries.
4) IPO in 2026: now off the table
A CCC+ rating effectively closes the IPO window.
To restart investor discussions, the airline would need:
lower leverage,
stable profitability,
positive free cash flow,
a clear and credible fleet-financing model.
None of these conditions is met today.
5) What comes next? Three realistic scenarios
A new capital injection by the Latvian state and Lufthansa to stabilise liquidity.
Restructuring of part of the debt and/or aircraft financing schedule.
Further expansion of ACMI operations, pushing airBaltic toward a Baltic capacity-provider model rather than a full-scale national carrier.
⭐️ Conclusion
airBaltic is not “in crisis” — it is already in a post-crisis correction phase, where liquidity, contractual inertia, and fleet obligations dictate more than strategy.
Fitch’s downgrade simply formalises what markets have understood for months:
without a significant capital injection, airBaltic will become financially unstable in the near term.#airBaltic
#A220
#FitchRatings
#CreditRisk
#AviationFinance #BSM2025
Baltic Focus · Agriculture & Food Industry Signal
Maag Food opens Estonia’s largest poultry halls in Lääne-Virumaa
Estonian food producer Maag Food has opened the country’s largest poultry facilities in Uudeküla, Tapa municipality. Each hall is 120 meters long, 30 meters wide, cost a total of €5 million, and will soon receive their first chicks — expected in ten days.
Both halls can house 60,000 birds each, with annual throughput exceeding one million broiler chickens. Maag owns key Estonian brands, including Rakvere and Tallegg, and plans to use operational insights from Uudeküla to optimise its next major project: a new poultry facility scheduled to open in Kiltsi in two years.
The two halls are intentionally built with different configurations to compare technology performance — from adjustable lighting systems that influence animal cycles to alternative heating and radiator setups. “Next year we’ll see which solutions work best,” the company noted during the opening.
Local government response has been supportive. Tapa municipality leader Riho Tell said residents did not oppose the project:
“People here are used to agricultural production — historically this area housed the Põdrangu state farm goose sheds. Rural life comes with smells and sounds.”
CONTEXT:
The investment signals continued consolidation and modernisation of Estonia’s poultry sector. As the country reduces reliance on imports and raises standards in food security, large-scale, tech-driven farms like Uudeküla play a growing strategic role.
BSM © 2025 | balticfocus.org
#balticfocus
Maag Food opens Estonia’s largest poultry halls in Lääne-Virumaa
Estonian food producer Maag Food has opened the country’s largest poultry facilities in Uudeküla, Tapa municipality. Each hall is 120 meters long, 30 meters wide, cost a total of €5 million, and will soon receive their first chicks — expected in ten days.
Both halls can house 60,000 birds each, with annual throughput exceeding one million broiler chickens. Maag owns key Estonian brands, including Rakvere and Tallegg, and plans to use operational insights from Uudeküla to optimise its next major project: a new poultry facility scheduled to open in Kiltsi in two years.
The two halls are intentionally built with different configurations to compare technology performance — from adjustable lighting systems that influence animal cycles to alternative heating and radiator setups. “Next year we’ll see which solutions work best,” the company noted during the opening.
Local government response has been supportive. Tapa municipality leader Riho Tell said residents did not oppose the project:
“People here are used to agricultural production — historically this area housed the Põdrangu state farm goose sheds. Rural life comes with smells and sounds.”
CONTEXT:
The investment signals continued consolidation and modernisation of Estonia’s poultry sector. As the country reduces reliance on imports and raises standards in food security, large-scale, tech-driven farms like Uudeküla play a growing strategic role.
BSM © 2025 | balticfocus.org
#balticfocus
Storent raises €16.5M — a strong signal for Baltic capital markets
Latvia’s equipment rental company Storent Holding has successfully completed its public bond offer, raising €16.5M — the full target amount. Demand remained solid throughout the process: €13.3M during subscription and another €3.2M through bond swaps. In total 1,200+ investors participated, and Storent’s overall investor base now exceeds 5,000 people.
The structure once again reflects the typical Baltic pattern:
• 74% of investment volume from Latvia
• 20% from Lithuania
• 6% from Estonia
Retail investors made up 85% of total demand — and all orders were allocated in full.
The company will direct €11.4M to refinancing, with the remaining capital supporting Storent’s expansion in the Baltics, the Nordics and the US. Storent will now apply for listing on Nasdaq Riga.
Context: This is the second major autumn signal highlighting the strength of Baltic retail-driven capital markets. Local investors continue to dominate regional financing — and Storent is one of the clearest examples of this trend.
BDW © 2025 | balticfocus.org
#balticfocus
Latvia’s equipment rental company Storent Holding has successfully completed its public bond offer, raising €16.5M — the full target amount. Demand remained solid throughout the process: €13.3M during subscription and another €3.2M through bond swaps. In total 1,200+ investors participated, and Storent’s overall investor base now exceeds 5,000 people.
The structure once again reflects the typical Baltic pattern:
• 74% of investment volume from Latvia
• 20% from Lithuania
• 6% from Estonia
Retail investors made up 85% of total demand — and all orders were allocated in full.
The company will direct €11.4M to refinancing, with the remaining capital supporting Storent’s expansion in the Baltics, the Nordics and the US. Storent will now apply for listing on Nasdaq Riga.
Context: This is the second major autumn signal highlighting the strength of Baltic retail-driven capital markets. Local investors continue to dominate regional financing — and Storent is one of the clearest examples of this trend.
BDW © 2025 | balticfocus.org
#balticfocus
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Due to a Cloudflare infrastructure outage, several online services worldwide are experiencing temporary disruptions. Our channel is affected as well: payments and some Telegram functions may be unstable.
We continue preparing content. Once Telegram services are fully restored, the channel will resume normal posting.
Thank you for your patience and for staying with us.
🇱🇹🇱🇻 Deal Signal | Latvia’s Global Champs acquires Lithuania’s Baltic Champs
Latvia’s family-owned Global Champs has signed a preliminary agreement to acquire Baltic Champs, the mushroom-growing subsidiary of Lithuania’s AUGA Group.
The sale is part of AUGA’s restructuring plan and will reduce its debt burden by almost €5 million.
Context: this deal is a rare reversal of regional capital flows. Over the past decade, Lithuanian companies have been the main buyers of Latvian assets — not the other way around. The transaction highlights both financial pressure on Lithuania’s agribusiness sector and a stronger role for Latvian private capital in cross-border acquisitions.
Sector outlook: Latvia’s mushroom cultivation industry is small. Public registries list around 15 officially active producers; including specialised brands, the realistic range is 15–20 enterprises. The industrial core consists of only 7–9 farms, with the rest operating on a small or micro scale. BSM © 2025 | balticfocus.org
#balticfocus
Latvia’s family-owned Global Champs has signed a preliminary agreement to acquire Baltic Champs, the mushroom-growing subsidiary of Lithuania’s AUGA Group.
The sale is part of AUGA’s restructuring plan and will reduce its debt burden by almost €5 million.
Context: this deal is a rare reversal of regional capital flows. Over the past decade, Lithuanian companies have been the main buyers of Latvian assets — not the other way around. The transaction highlights both financial pressure on Lithuania’s agribusiness sector and a stronger role for Latvian private capital in cross-border acquisitions.
Sector outlook: Latvia’s mushroom cultivation industry is small. Public registries list around 15 officially active producers; including specialised brands, the realistic range is 15–20 enterprises. The industrial core consists of only 7–9 farms, with the rest operating on a small or micro scale. BSM © 2025 | balticfocus.org
#balticfocus
🇱🇻 Wildlife Signal | Latvia ends roe deer season with 19,868 animals culled
Latvia’s forestry service reports 19,868 roe deer culled this season — well below the 35,000 taken in seasons before limits were removed, and still short of the 30,000–40,000 needed to stabilise the national population (~202,000 animals).
Context: Latvia has no legal commercial market for game meat, so most venison remains inside hunting collectives through private distribution. The main concern is structure, not volume: 56% of this year’s cull were bucks, far above the recommended 35–40%. #Latvia #WildlifeManagement #Biodiversity #Forestry
Latvia’s forestry service reports 19,868 roe deer culled this season — well below the 35,000 taken in seasons before limits were removed, and still short of the 30,000–40,000 needed to stabilise the national population (~202,000 animals).
Context: Latvia has no legal commercial market for game meat, so most venison remains inside hunting collectives through private distribution. The main concern is structure, not volume: 56% of this year’s cull were bucks, far above the recommended 35–40%. #Latvia #WildlifeManagement #Biodiversity #Forestry
🇱🇻 Latvia Transport Signal | Ventspils grows against national trend
Latvian ports handled 25.5 mln t in Jan–Sep (–1.9%), but Ventspils is moving in the opposite direction: +14.7%, totalling 6.5 mln t.
Growth came across key segments — oil products (+39%), Ro-Ro (+22%) and Kazakhstan coal (+60%). Liquid cargo increase is driven by higher oil-product imports handled through the Ventspils terminal system.
Ventspils has also opened a unique corridor for 100-metre heavy-haul convoys, now used for large renewable-energy components.
Ventspils remains the only major port expanding, supported by liquid cargo and oversize logistics.
🔗 X-version: https://x.com/BalticFocus/status/1997054094146727959
BSM © 2025 | balticfocus.org
#Latvia #Ventspils #Ports #Logistics
Latvian ports handled 25.5 mln t in Jan–Sep (–1.9%), but Ventspils is moving in the opposite direction: +14.7%, totalling 6.5 mln t.
Growth came across key segments — oil products (+39%), Ro-Ro (+22%) and Kazakhstan coal (+60%). Liquid cargo increase is driven by higher oil-product imports handled through the Ventspils terminal system.
Ventspils has also opened a unique corridor for 100-metre heavy-haul convoys, now used for large renewable-energy components.
Ventspils remains the only major port expanding, supported by liquid cargo and oversize logistics.
🔗 X-version: https://x.com/BalticFocus/status/1997054094146727959
BSM © 2025 | balticfocus.org
#Latvia #Ventspils #Ports #Logistics
🇱🇻🇱🇹🇪🇪 Baltic Grocery Index — Week of 6 December
Latvia –1.8%
Prices eased on poultry and pork, while vegetables remained stable. Latvia holds a mid-range position in the region.
Lithuania –0.9%
Lower egg prices and stable meat keep Lithuania the cheapest basket in the Baltics. Core essentials remain consistently below LV and EE levels.
Estonia +0.6%
Higher pork and egg prices lifted the weekly basket, despite cheaper oil and milk. Estonia remains the most expensive market overall.
Baltic trend:
Lithuania leads on affordability, Latvia stays balanced, while Estonia faces the strongest price pressure in protein categories. Rice remains the sharpest divergence — EE levels are still 2–2.5× below LV and LT.
Baltic Shift Map © 2025 | balticfocus.org
Latvia –1.8%
Prices eased on poultry and pork, while vegetables remained stable. Latvia holds a mid-range position in the region.
Lithuania –0.9%
Lower egg prices and stable meat keep Lithuania the cheapest basket in the Baltics. Core essentials remain consistently below LV and EE levels.
Estonia +0.6%
Higher pork and egg prices lifted the weekly basket, despite cheaper oil and milk. Estonia remains the most expensive market overall.
Baltic trend:
Lithuania leads on affordability, Latvia stays balanced, while Estonia faces the strongest price pressure in protein categories. Rice remains the sharpest divergence — EE levels are still 2–2.5× below LV and LT.
Baltic Shift Map © 2025 | balticfocus.org
🇱🇻 LATVIA — Basket –1.8% WoW
Milk 0.75
Bread 0.39
Eggs (10) 2.29
Chicken fillet (kg) 6.99
Pork shoulder (kg) 5.69
Potatoes (kg) 0.49
Carrots (kg) 0.65
Sunflower oil 1L 1.99
Rice 800g 1.19
Sugar 1kg 0.75
Latvia remains a mid-range market: stable vegetables, easing meat prices.
🇱🇹 LITHUANIA — Basket –0.9% WoW
Milk 0.62–0.65
Bread 0.79
Eggs (10) 2.15
Chicken fillet (kg) 7.29–8.49
Pork shoulder (kg) 5.59
Potatoes (kg) 0.49*
Carrots (kg) 0.65*
Sunflower oil 1L 1.54
Rice 800g 0.95
Sugar 1kg 0.89
*Last available baseline price (product out of stock at week end).
Lithuania keeps the cheapest basket in the Baltics, driven by protein categories.
🇪🇪 ESTONIA — Basket +0.6% WoW
Milk 0.59
Bread 0.43
Eggs (10) 2.75
Chicken fillet (kg) 6.58
Pork shoulder (kg) 9.29
Potatoes (kg) 0.39
Carrots (kg) 0.45
Sunflower oil 1L 1.59
Rice 800g 0.49
Sugar 1kg 0.73
Estonia remains the most expensive market, with pork and eggs driving the weekly increase.
🔎 Baltic Trend
• Lithuania is the most affordable — protein prices remain the lowest.
• Latvia is stable — mid-range basket with minor declines.
• Estonia is the most expensive — strong upward pressure in pork and eggs.
• Rice shows the widest divergence: EE prices are still 2–2.5× below LV and LT. Baltic Shift Map © 2025 | balticfocus.org
Milk 0.75
Bread 0.39
Eggs (10) 2.29
Chicken fillet (kg) 6.99
Pork shoulder (kg) 5.69
Potatoes (kg) 0.49
Carrots (kg) 0.65
Sunflower oil 1L 1.99
Rice 800g 1.19
Sugar 1kg 0.75
Latvia remains a mid-range market: stable vegetables, easing meat prices.
🇱🇹 LITHUANIA — Basket –0.9% WoW
Milk 0.62–0.65
Bread 0.79
Eggs (10) 2.15
Chicken fillet (kg) 7.29–8.49
Pork shoulder (kg) 5.59
Potatoes (kg) 0.49*
Carrots (kg) 0.65*
Sunflower oil 1L 1.54
Rice 800g 0.95
Sugar 1kg 0.89
*Last available baseline price (product out of stock at week end).
Lithuania keeps the cheapest basket in the Baltics, driven by protein categories.
🇪🇪 ESTONIA — Basket +0.6% WoW
Milk 0.59
Bread 0.43
Eggs (10) 2.75
Chicken fillet (kg) 6.58
Pork shoulder (kg) 9.29
Potatoes (kg) 0.39
Carrots (kg) 0.45
Sunflower oil 1L 1.59
Rice 800g 0.49
Sugar 1kg 0.73
Estonia remains the most expensive market, with pork and eggs driving the weekly increase.
🔎 Baltic Trend
• Lithuania is the most affordable — protein prices remain the lowest.
• Latvia is stable — mid-range basket with minor declines.
• Estonia is the most expensive — strong upward pressure in pork and eggs.
• Rice shows the widest divergence: EE prices are still 2–2.5× below LV and LT. Baltic Shift Map © 2025 | balticfocus.org
Baltic Shift Map — Monday Signals (01–07 December)
1) Three-speed wage divergence emerges in the Baltics
Lithuania accelerates to the highest wages in the region (€2,427, +8.5%). Estonia slows (€2,075, +5.9%). Latvia remains stable but published Q2 data with unusual delay. Divergence will shape 2026 consumption and mobility.
2) Estonia secures 1036 MW for island-mode operation
The Elering–Enefit Power agreement guarantees enough controllable generation for full grid isolation. A core resilience step ahead of Baltic desynchronisation; financed via a new security-of-supply fee (€2.35/month).
3) Social Radar: low-probability defence scenario amplified into politics
A RAND comment on dismantling Latvia’s broad-gauge rail was escalated from analytical scenario to political debate. The reaction highlights increased sensitivity of the Baltic information space.
4) Fokker Latvia: liquidation exposes PR-stage industrial promises
The hydrogen aircraft project ends without assets, staff or activity. Public momentum had already shifted to the Netherlands. The case shows how small states can be used for EU-optics without real industrial commitments.
5) airBaltic downgrade formalises liquidity stress
Fitch cuts airBaltic to CCC+. The airline may need €180–220M within a year. Airbus delivery obligations and high-cost bonds compress strategic options. The 2026 IPO window is effectively closed.
6) Baltic capital markets reinforce retail strength
Storent raises €16.5M with 85% retail participation. Retail-driven financing remains a defining feature of Baltic capital markets.
7) Estonia’s poultry sector shows expansion — and regulatory risk appears simultaneously
Maag Food opened Estonia’s largest poultry halls (120×30 m each; >1M broilers/year; €5M investment).
Almost simultaneously, the company became the subject of a tax-evasion investigation: the Estonian Tax and Customs Board conducted searches in offices and private residences, suspecting large-scale underreporting of taxable profit.
This creates a dual signal: rapid industrial expansion in Estonia’s protein sector alongside heightened fiscal scrutiny of one of its central players — a combination that may influence investment planning and sector consolidation in 2026.#BalticFocus #BalticShiftMap #BSM2025
#Baltics #Economy #EnergySecurity
#SocialRadar #Latvia #Lithuania #Estonia
1) Three-speed wage divergence emerges in the Baltics
Lithuania accelerates to the highest wages in the region (€2,427, +8.5%). Estonia slows (€2,075, +5.9%). Latvia remains stable but published Q2 data with unusual delay. Divergence will shape 2026 consumption and mobility.
2) Estonia secures 1036 MW for island-mode operation
The Elering–Enefit Power agreement guarantees enough controllable generation for full grid isolation. A core resilience step ahead of Baltic desynchronisation; financed via a new security-of-supply fee (€2.35/month).
3) Social Radar: low-probability defence scenario amplified into politics
A RAND comment on dismantling Latvia’s broad-gauge rail was escalated from analytical scenario to political debate. The reaction highlights increased sensitivity of the Baltic information space.
4) Fokker Latvia: liquidation exposes PR-stage industrial promises
The hydrogen aircraft project ends without assets, staff or activity. Public momentum had already shifted to the Netherlands. The case shows how small states can be used for EU-optics without real industrial commitments.
5) airBaltic downgrade formalises liquidity stress
Fitch cuts airBaltic to CCC+. The airline may need €180–220M within a year. Airbus delivery obligations and high-cost bonds compress strategic options. The 2026 IPO window is effectively closed.
6) Baltic capital markets reinforce retail strength
Storent raises €16.5M with 85% retail participation. Retail-driven financing remains a defining feature of Baltic capital markets.
7) Estonia’s poultry sector shows expansion — and regulatory risk appears simultaneously
Maag Food opened Estonia’s largest poultry halls (120×30 m each; >1M broilers/year; €5M investment).
Almost simultaneously, the company became the subject of a tax-evasion investigation: the Estonian Tax and Customs Board conducted searches in offices and private residences, suspecting large-scale underreporting of taxable profit.
This creates a dual signal: rapid industrial expansion in Estonia’s protein sector alongside heightened fiscal scrutiny of one of its central players — a combination that may influence investment planning and sector consolidation in 2026.#BalticFocus #BalticShiftMap #BSM2025
#Baltics #Economy #EnergySecurity
#SocialRadar #Latvia #Lithuania #Estonia
Baltic Social Radar: December 1–7, 2025
This weekly overview analyzes trending non-media topics in X (formerly Twitter) discussions from Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, focusing on native-language content (Estonian: et; Lithuanian: lt; Latvian: lv). We prioritized posts with high engagement (likes >50, reposts >10), excluded news/links, and used semantic filters to surface organic conversations on daily life, culture, and local concerns.
~120 high-relevance posts formed five cross-Baltic themes. Tonalities reflect aggregated sentiment (positive = optimistic/humorous, negative = frustrated/critical, mixed = balanced).
A separate section reviews Russian-language conversations from Baltic users (lang:ru with geo/keyword filters), now reconstructed to show two distinct clusters rather than a single bloc.
Top 5 Native-Language Themes (Estonian / Lithuanian / Latvian)
Holiday cheer mixes with economic strain and security anxiety. ~55% of posts came from Tallinn, Vilnius, and Riga; activity peaked mid-week during budget debates and cultural events.
1) Holiday Traditions & Markets
Description: Festive preparations, Christmas markets, nostalgia for old customs, eco-friendly gifting debates. Latvia especially active after Riga’s market appeared near the top of European rankings.
Key Examples:
– Latvians sharing Riga Christmas lights
– Lithuanians discussing tree recycling and sustainable gifts
– Estonians joking about Santa’s “Riigikogu boycott”
Tonality: Positive, with light eco-critiques
Engagement: ~30% of all posts; ~120 likes/post
2) Economic Pressures & Budget Impacts
Description: VAT hikes (books, sweets, tobacco), excise increases, frustration over infrastructure delays and rising medical costs.
Key Examples:
– Estonia: medicine shortages
– Lithuania: objections to transport taxes
– Latvia: criticism of the 2026 budget deficit
Tonality: Negative
Engagement: Often 200+ likes
3) Language Policy & Integration
Description: A sharp spike driven by Latvia’s new requirements for Ukrainian refugees to learn Latvian to keep employment and benefits; heavy referencing of Lithuania’s court decision allowing aid cuts for skipping >40% of classes. Budget cuts (Latvia’s refugee support reduced to ~€39M in 2026) amplified debate.
Key Examples:
– Calls to “mirror Lithuania’s ruling exactly”
– Discussions on reviewing status for refugees who travel to Russia
– Complaints about Russian-speaking cashiers in major chains
Tonality: Mixed: pride in stricter integration vs frustration at “unwilling learners”
Engagement: ~20% of theme share; 100–300 likes/post (e.g., @liana_langa’s post ~95 likes)
4) Military Readiness & Security
Description: Conscription expansion, Belarus balloon/BPLA incidents, emergency planning, border infrastructure adjustments.
Key Examples:
– Lithuania: annual target of 5,000 conscripts
– Estonia: “hybrid probes” near critical sites
– Latvia: rail dismantling toward Russia widely discussed
Tonality: Negative (anxiety), with pockets of positive resolve
Engagement: 150–300 likes on high-impact threads
5) Cultural Heritage & Media Freedom
Description: Ownership of song festivals, pressures on journalists, anniversaries of Baltic linguistic heritage.
Key Examples:
– Latvia: disputes between community vs official organisers
– Lithuania: support for LRT independence
– Estonia: folklore integration in schools
Tonality: Positive–mixed
Engagement: ~100+ likes; strong artist/teacher participation
Overall Tonality (Native-Language)
Mixed:
– 50% positive (holidays & heritage)
– 35% negative (economy & security)
– 15% neutral
Users balance festive optimism with budget irritation and ongoing geopolitical caution.
Russian-Language Trends Among Baltic Users (Dec 1–7, 2025)
~40 high-engagement lang:ru posts.
Critical finding: Russian-speaking conversations do not form a single sentiment cluster. Instead, they divide into two distinct, minimally connected groups with different values, tones, and social ties.
Cluster A — Cultural & Linguistic Frustration (Everyday Concerns)
Profile:
Older demographic (35–50+), focused on
This weekly overview analyzes trending non-media topics in X (formerly Twitter) discussions from Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, focusing on native-language content (Estonian: et; Lithuanian: lt; Latvian: lv). We prioritized posts with high engagement (likes >50, reposts >10), excluded news/links, and used semantic filters to surface organic conversations on daily life, culture, and local concerns.
~120 high-relevance posts formed five cross-Baltic themes. Tonalities reflect aggregated sentiment (positive = optimistic/humorous, negative = frustrated/critical, mixed = balanced).
A separate section reviews Russian-language conversations from Baltic users (lang:ru with geo/keyword filters), now reconstructed to show two distinct clusters rather than a single bloc.
Top 5 Native-Language Themes (Estonian / Lithuanian / Latvian)
Holiday cheer mixes with economic strain and security anxiety. ~55% of posts came from Tallinn, Vilnius, and Riga; activity peaked mid-week during budget debates and cultural events.
1) Holiday Traditions & Markets
Description: Festive preparations, Christmas markets, nostalgia for old customs, eco-friendly gifting debates. Latvia especially active after Riga’s market appeared near the top of European rankings.
Key Examples:
– Latvians sharing Riga Christmas lights
– Lithuanians discussing tree recycling and sustainable gifts
– Estonians joking about Santa’s “Riigikogu boycott”
Tonality: Positive, with light eco-critiques
Engagement: ~30% of all posts; ~120 likes/post
2) Economic Pressures & Budget Impacts
Description: VAT hikes (books, sweets, tobacco), excise increases, frustration over infrastructure delays and rising medical costs.
Key Examples:
– Estonia: medicine shortages
– Lithuania: objections to transport taxes
– Latvia: criticism of the 2026 budget deficit
Tonality: Negative
Engagement: Often 200+ likes
3) Language Policy & Integration
Description: A sharp spike driven by Latvia’s new requirements for Ukrainian refugees to learn Latvian to keep employment and benefits; heavy referencing of Lithuania’s court decision allowing aid cuts for skipping >40% of classes. Budget cuts (Latvia’s refugee support reduced to ~€39M in 2026) amplified debate.
Key Examples:
– Calls to “mirror Lithuania’s ruling exactly”
– Discussions on reviewing status for refugees who travel to Russia
– Complaints about Russian-speaking cashiers in major chains
Tonality: Mixed: pride in stricter integration vs frustration at “unwilling learners”
Engagement: ~20% of theme share; 100–300 likes/post (e.g., @liana_langa’s post ~95 likes)
4) Military Readiness & Security
Description: Conscription expansion, Belarus balloon/BPLA incidents, emergency planning, border infrastructure adjustments.
Key Examples:
– Lithuania: annual target of 5,000 conscripts
– Estonia: “hybrid probes” near critical sites
– Latvia: rail dismantling toward Russia widely discussed
Tonality: Negative (anxiety), with pockets of positive resolve
Engagement: 150–300 likes on high-impact threads
5) Cultural Heritage & Media Freedom
Description: Ownership of song festivals, pressures on journalists, anniversaries of Baltic linguistic heritage.
Key Examples:
– Latvia: disputes between community vs official organisers
– Lithuania: support for LRT independence
– Estonia: folklore integration in schools
Tonality: Positive–mixed
Engagement: ~100+ likes; strong artist/teacher participation
Overall Tonality (Native-Language)
Mixed:
– 50% positive (holidays & heritage)
– 35% negative (economy & security)
– 15% neutral
Users balance festive optimism with budget irritation and ongoing geopolitical caution.
Russian-Language Trends Among Baltic Users (Dec 1–7, 2025)
~40 high-engagement lang:ru posts.
Critical finding: Russian-speaking conversations do not form a single sentiment cluster. Instead, they divide into two distinct, minimally connected groups with different values, tones, and social ties.
Cluster A — Cultural & Linguistic Frustration (Everyday Concerns)
Profile:
Older demographic (35–50+), focused on
Cluster A — Cultural & Linguistic Frustration (Everyday Concerns)
Profile:
Older demographic (35–50+), focused on daily-life issues, culturally anxious, politically cautious, rarely interacting with Cluster B.
Narratives: language pressure, cultural erosion, rising costs.
Themes (~60% of RU-language activity):
1) Language Mandates & Integration Rules
Complaints about mandatory courses, exams, and Latvian-language requirements in retail and services.
Tone: negative
Engagement: ~180 likes
2) Economic Pressure & Cost of Living
Medicine prices, excises, basic goods; nostalgia for “cheaper years.”
Tone: mixed
Engagement: ~140 likes
3) VAT on Russian Books & Media Restrictions
Pushback against 21% VAT on RU books and film dubbing restrictions.
Tone: negative–anxious
Engagement: ~120 likes
4) Holiday Nostalgia
Non-political festive posts, photos, recipes.
Tone: positive
Engagement: ~90 likes
Cluster B — Pro-Ukraine, Security-Focused & Civically Active
Profile:
Younger users (20–40), urban/IT/creative/volunteer circles, openly pro-Ukraine, critical of Kremlin narratives, supportive of Baltic security policies.
Very limited overlap with Cluster A.
Themes (~40% of RU-language activity):
1) Ukraine Solidarity
Fundraisers, community support, volunteer updates.
Tone: strongly positive–empathetic
Engagement: 200+ likes
2) Border Security & Belarus Balloon Incidents
Support for rail dismantling toward Russia; calls for coordinated Baltic airspace response.
Tone: positive on defense, negative on threats
Engagement: 150–250 likes
3) Integration as Civic Duty
“Live here — learn the language” messaging; strict support for enforcement.
Tone: positive–strict
Engagement: 80–120 likes
4) Anti-Kremlin Commentary
Mocking propagandists, highlighting democratic movements.
Tone: sharply negative toward Kremlin; supportive of EU/NATO
Engagement: 150+ likes
Structural Observation: Two Segments, Not One
Russian-language conversations in the Baltics form two separate ecosystems, not a unified bloc:
Cluster A focuses on cultural/language frustration and avoids geopolitics.
Cluster B focuses on Ukraine, security, and civic norms.
Cross-cluster interaction is minimal, meaning aggregated sentiment would be misleading.
The two audiences must be analyzed independently.
Summary Signal
Balts navigate December with holiday optimism, economic irritation, and persistent security awareness.
Latvia’s integration debate becomes the week’s biggest social flashpoint.
Russian-language discussions bifurcate sharply, revealing two different communities rather than a single “minority opinion.”#BalticSocialRadar #BalticFocus #Baltics #Estonia #Latvia #Lithuania #SocialTrends #PublicSentiment #LanguagePolicy #Integration #Security #HybridThreats #UkraineSupport #HolidayTrends #EconomicPressure #BookVAT #MediaFreedom #CulturalHeritage #DigitalPublicSphere
Profile:
Older demographic (35–50+), focused on daily-life issues, culturally anxious, politically cautious, rarely interacting with Cluster B.
Narratives: language pressure, cultural erosion, rising costs.
Themes (~60% of RU-language activity):
1) Language Mandates & Integration Rules
Complaints about mandatory courses, exams, and Latvian-language requirements in retail and services.
Tone: negative
Engagement: ~180 likes
2) Economic Pressure & Cost of Living
Medicine prices, excises, basic goods; nostalgia for “cheaper years.”
Tone: mixed
Engagement: ~140 likes
3) VAT on Russian Books & Media Restrictions
Pushback against 21% VAT on RU books and film dubbing restrictions.
Tone: negative–anxious
Engagement: ~120 likes
4) Holiday Nostalgia
Non-political festive posts, photos, recipes.
Tone: positive
Engagement: ~90 likes
Cluster B — Pro-Ukraine, Security-Focused & Civically Active
Profile:
Younger users (20–40), urban/IT/creative/volunteer circles, openly pro-Ukraine, critical of Kremlin narratives, supportive of Baltic security policies.
Very limited overlap with Cluster A.
Themes (~40% of RU-language activity):
1) Ukraine Solidarity
Fundraisers, community support, volunteer updates.
Tone: strongly positive–empathetic
Engagement: 200+ likes
2) Border Security & Belarus Balloon Incidents
Support for rail dismantling toward Russia; calls for coordinated Baltic airspace response.
Tone: positive on defense, negative on threats
Engagement: 150–250 likes
3) Integration as Civic Duty
“Live here — learn the language” messaging; strict support for enforcement.
Tone: positive–strict
Engagement: 80–120 likes
4) Anti-Kremlin Commentary
Mocking propagandists, highlighting democratic movements.
Tone: sharply negative toward Kremlin; supportive of EU/NATO
Engagement: 150+ likes
Structural Observation: Two Segments, Not One
Russian-language conversations in the Baltics form two separate ecosystems, not a unified bloc:
Cluster A focuses on cultural/language frustration and avoids geopolitics.
Cluster B focuses on Ukraine, security, and civic norms.
Cross-cluster interaction is minimal, meaning aggregated sentiment would be misleading.
The two audiences must be analyzed independently.
Summary Signal
Balts navigate December with holiday optimism, economic irritation, and persistent security awareness.
Latvia’s integration debate becomes the week’s biggest social flashpoint.
Russian-language discussions bifurcate sharply, revealing two different communities rather than a single “minority opinion.”#BalticSocialRadar #BalticFocus #Baltics #Estonia #Latvia #Lithuania #SocialTrends #PublicSentiment #LanguagePolicy #Integration #Security #HybridThreats #UkraineSupport #HolidayTrends #EconomicPressure #BookVAT #MediaFreedom #CulturalHeritage #DigitalPublicSphere
🇪🇪🇱🇹🇱🇻 BALTIC INFLATION SNAPSHOT — November 2025
Latvia · Lithuania · Estonia
(All data: official national statistical offices)
🇱🇻 LATVIA
MoM: –0.3%
YoY: 3.8%
Drivers (MoM):
Transport –1.2% (airfares ↓; fuel +0.6%)
Food –0.5% (coffee –2.3%, fruit –3%, milk –2.8%, poultry –1.6%, juices –6.8%)
Fresh vegetables +9.4%
Personal care +2.0%
YoY highlights:
Food +5.2% (coffee +34%, beef +26.6%, eggs +19.6%, chocolate +17.2%)
Housing +6.2% (electricity +14.2%, rent +6.6%)
Restaurants +5.4%
Transport +2.2%
🇱🇹 LITHUANIA
MoM: +0.4%
YoY: 3.8%
Drivers (MoM):
Housing +1.5% (heat energy +8.2%, liquid fuel +6.7%)
Misc services +2.4% (personal care appliances +8.9%; bank fees +5.4%)
Transport +1.2% (diesel +5.1%; petrol +1.8%)
Food –0.1% (rice –4.3%, pasta –4.9%; seafood +7.6%; sweet paprika +29.6%)
YoY highlights:
Goods +2.9%, services +5.9%
Food +4.3%
Alcohol & tobacco +7.8%
Restaurants/hotels +6.2%
🇪🇪 ESTONIA
MoM: –0.2%
YoY: 4.9% (highest in the Baltics)
Drivers (MoM):
Food +1% (fish +7.7%, cheese +3.3%, bread +2.7%)
Clothing/footwear +1%
Electricity +1.6%
Petrol +8.1%, diesel +10.8% (!!)
Travel services ↓ (holiday trips, airfares, hotels)
YoY highlights:
Food +6.5% (chocolate +27.8%; dairy +8.4%; meat +7.1%)
Health +11.1%
Transport +10.6%
Clothing/footwear –5.7%
🧭 REGIONAL PICTURE (Baltics)
Inflation remains moderate in LV and LT (3.8%), but elevated in EE (4.9%)
Food is the main inflation engine in all three countries
Energy drove Lithuania’s MoM rise; fuel pushed Estonia upward
Latvia saw the largest price correction due to seasonal discounts and cheaper airfares
Services inflation remains structurally higher than goods across the region. #BalticEconomy
#BalticInflation
#Latvia #Lithuania #Estonia
#CPI
Latvia · Lithuania · Estonia
(All data: official national statistical offices)
🇱🇻 LATVIA
MoM: –0.3%
YoY: 3.8%
Drivers (MoM):
Transport –1.2% (airfares ↓; fuel +0.6%)
Food –0.5% (coffee –2.3%, fruit –3%, milk –2.8%, poultry –1.6%, juices –6.8%)
Fresh vegetables +9.4%
Personal care +2.0%
YoY highlights:
Food +5.2% (coffee +34%, beef +26.6%, eggs +19.6%, chocolate +17.2%)
Housing +6.2% (electricity +14.2%, rent +6.6%)
Restaurants +5.4%
Transport +2.2%
🇱🇹 LITHUANIA
MoM: +0.4%
YoY: 3.8%
Drivers (MoM):
Housing +1.5% (heat energy +8.2%, liquid fuel +6.7%)
Misc services +2.4% (personal care appliances +8.9%; bank fees +5.4%)
Transport +1.2% (diesel +5.1%; petrol +1.8%)
Food –0.1% (rice –4.3%, pasta –4.9%; seafood +7.6%; sweet paprika +29.6%)
YoY highlights:
Goods +2.9%, services +5.9%
Food +4.3%
Alcohol & tobacco +7.8%
Restaurants/hotels +6.2%
🇪🇪 ESTONIA
MoM: –0.2%
YoY: 4.9% (highest in the Baltics)
Drivers (MoM):
Food +1% (fish +7.7%, cheese +3.3%, bread +2.7%)
Clothing/footwear +1%
Electricity +1.6%
Petrol +8.1%, diesel +10.8% (!!)
Travel services ↓ (holiday trips, airfares, hotels)
YoY highlights:
Food +6.5% (chocolate +27.8%; dairy +8.4%; meat +7.1%)
Health +11.1%
Transport +10.6%
Clothing/footwear –5.7%
🧭 REGIONAL PICTURE (Baltics)
Inflation remains moderate in LV and LT (3.8%), but elevated in EE (4.9%)
Food is the main inflation engine in all three countries
Energy drove Lithuania’s MoM rise; fuel pushed Estonia upward
Latvia saw the largest price correction due to seasonal discounts and cheaper airfares
Services inflation remains structurally higher than goods across the region. #BalticEconomy
#BalticInflation
#Latvia #Lithuania #Estonia
#CPI
🇪🇺🇱🇻 Belgian CLD Holding teams up with Latvia’s Geedie to build a next-gen European game-trading platform
Belgium’s CLD Holding — operator of 43 Smartoys and Gamecash stores in Belgium, France and French Guiana — has created a joint venture in Latvia with Geedie.com, a Baltic social trading platform for games and consoles. The goal: develop the next-generation Gamecash digital ecosystem for more than 900 000 existing users.
The new Latvia-based company will drive product development and integration into CLD’s infrastructure. A full acquisition of Geedie.com by CLD is also underway.
Geedie currently operates in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, offering over 9000 unique items and enabling peer-to-peer game trading, collections management and community features.
CLD CEO Raphaël Pluta: “The Geedie × CLD partnership is the missing piece in our ecosystem.”
Geedie founder Pāvels Vigovskis: “This gives Geedie access to nearly one million game enthusiasts and opens the way to a new European gaming ecosystem.”
Context:
This is one of the most significant Baltic tech entries into Europe’s gaming retail value chain in recent years. Latvia becomes a development hub for a platform serving a near-million-user market — a rare example of regional digital infrastructure being scaled by a Western European distributor.
BDW © 2025 | balticfocus.org #balticfocus
Belgium’s CLD Holding — operator of 43 Smartoys and Gamecash stores in Belgium, France and French Guiana — has created a joint venture in Latvia with Geedie.com, a Baltic social trading platform for games and consoles. The goal: develop the next-generation Gamecash digital ecosystem for more than 900 000 existing users.
The new Latvia-based company will drive product development and integration into CLD’s infrastructure. A full acquisition of Geedie.com by CLD is also underway.
Geedie currently operates in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, offering over 9000 unique items and enabling peer-to-peer game trading, collections management and community features.
CLD CEO Raphaël Pluta: “The Geedie × CLD partnership is the missing piece in our ecosystem.”
Geedie founder Pāvels Vigovskis: “This gives Geedie access to nearly one million game enthusiasts and opens the way to a new European gaming ecosystem.”
Context:
This is one of the most significant Baltic tech entries into Europe’s gaming retail value chain in recent years. Latvia becomes a development hub for a platform serving a near-million-user market — a rare example of regional digital infrastructure being scaled by a Western European distributor.
BDW © 2025 | balticfocus.org #balticfocus
🇱🇻🇱🇹🇪🇪 Baltic job market: vacancies drop across the region, but employment remains stable
Baltic labour markets continued to cool in Q3 2025, with all three states reporting fewer job vacancies year-on-year. Despite this, total employment remains broadly stable, signalling a soft adjustment rather than a downturn.
Lithuanian data are based on the national labour-market monitoring report for October, which provides the most recent comparable indicators for vacancies, sectoral dynamics and unemployment.
🇱🇻 Latvia: sharp vacancy decline, mild employment growth
Latvia recorded 19.2 thousand job vacancies in Q3 (2.1% of all jobs). Vacancies fell 16.1% year-on-year, with the public sector showing the strongest drop (–21.9%).
At the same time, filled jobs increased slightly to 888.5 thousand (+0.3%).
Highest vacancy shares:
public administration – 6.3%,
administrative & support services – 2.9%,
electricity, gas & heating – 2.8%,
transport & storage – 2.5%.
Rīga accounts for the majority of open positions (2.8% of jobs), while Latgale remains structurally weak (1.1%).
🇱🇹 Lithuania: fewer vacancies, demand concentrated in skilled work
Lithuania also shows a double-digit decline in vacancies. At the end of October there were 20.1 thousand open jobs, around 12% less than a year earlier.
Employers registered 14.1 thousand new vacancies during the month – less than in September and below last year’s level.
A key feature of Lithuania’s labour market is the high share of skilled labour demand: about three quarters of newly advertised positions require qualifications.
Sectoral distribution of new vacancies:
manufacturing – ~3.3 thousand,
administrative & support services – ~2.2 thousand,
wholesale & retail – ~1.9 thousand,
construction – ~1.6 thousand,
transport & storage – ~1.5 thousand (highest since last October),
health & social work, education and hospitality – moderate but steady demand.
Vacancies decreased in most sectors except logistics, health & social work, energy and IT – signalling resilience in transport, healthcare and the energy-digital segment.
Regionally, demand remains concentrated in major cities: Vilnius, Kaunas, Šiauliai, Klaipėda.
Registered unemployment in October stood at 8.2%, slightly lower than a year earlier.
🇪🇪 Estonia: modest cooling, steady vacancy rate
Estonia reported 9,375 job vacancies in Q3 2025, down 5.4% year-on-year. The vacancy rate remained at 1.6%, suggesting stability despite reduced hiring appetite.
Sectors with the most open jobs:
education (~2,025 vacancies),
wholesale & retail trade (~1,264).
Manufacturing, trade and education remain the largest employers, matching long-term structural patterns.
Most vacancies are concentrated in Harju County, reflecting Tallinn’s dominant role.
Labour turnover decreased by ~1%, indicating slightly lower hiring and separation rates.
🔎 Regional picture: a synchronised cooling cycle
Across all three countries, the signals are consistent:
📉 Vacancies are falling everywhere
Latvia: –16%
Lithuania: –12%
Estonia: –5%
📊 But employment levels remain stable
Latvia: +0.3%
Lithuania: near-flat employment, with minor year-on-year growth
Estonia: stable total posts, small fluctuations
🏭 Sectoral patterns repeat across the region
Public services are short of people in all three countries (especially Latvia and Estonia).
Manufacturing and logistics show strong demand in Lithuania and stable hiring needs in Estonia.
Transport & storage is a high-demand sector in Latvia and Lithuania.
Education and healthcare appear consistently among vacancy-heavy sectors.
Energy and IT remain pockets of resilience, particularly in Lithuania.
🌍 What it means for 2026
The Baltics are experiencing a soft labour-market correction: employers post fewer vacancies but do not reduce total employment.
Demand is becoming more selective, concentrating in sectors tied to public services, industry, logistics, energy, healthcare and digitalisation.
Baltic labour markets continued to cool in Q3 2025, with all three states reporting fewer job vacancies year-on-year. Despite this, total employment remains broadly stable, signalling a soft adjustment rather than a downturn.
Lithuanian data are based on the national labour-market monitoring report for October, which provides the most recent comparable indicators for vacancies, sectoral dynamics and unemployment.
🇱🇻 Latvia: sharp vacancy decline, mild employment growth
Latvia recorded 19.2 thousand job vacancies in Q3 (2.1% of all jobs). Vacancies fell 16.1% year-on-year, with the public sector showing the strongest drop (–21.9%).
At the same time, filled jobs increased slightly to 888.5 thousand (+0.3%).
Highest vacancy shares:
public administration – 6.3%,
administrative & support services – 2.9%,
electricity, gas & heating – 2.8%,
transport & storage – 2.5%.
Rīga accounts for the majority of open positions (2.8% of jobs), while Latgale remains structurally weak (1.1%).
🇱🇹 Lithuania: fewer vacancies, demand concentrated in skilled work
Lithuania also shows a double-digit decline in vacancies. At the end of October there were 20.1 thousand open jobs, around 12% less than a year earlier.
Employers registered 14.1 thousand new vacancies during the month – less than in September and below last year’s level.
A key feature of Lithuania’s labour market is the high share of skilled labour demand: about three quarters of newly advertised positions require qualifications.
Sectoral distribution of new vacancies:
manufacturing – ~3.3 thousand,
administrative & support services – ~2.2 thousand,
wholesale & retail – ~1.9 thousand,
construction – ~1.6 thousand,
transport & storage – ~1.5 thousand (highest since last October),
health & social work, education and hospitality – moderate but steady demand.
Vacancies decreased in most sectors except logistics, health & social work, energy and IT – signalling resilience in transport, healthcare and the energy-digital segment.
Regionally, demand remains concentrated in major cities: Vilnius, Kaunas, Šiauliai, Klaipėda.
Registered unemployment in October stood at 8.2%, slightly lower than a year earlier.
🇪🇪 Estonia: modest cooling, steady vacancy rate
Estonia reported 9,375 job vacancies in Q3 2025, down 5.4% year-on-year. The vacancy rate remained at 1.6%, suggesting stability despite reduced hiring appetite.
Sectors with the most open jobs:
education (~2,025 vacancies),
wholesale & retail trade (~1,264).
Manufacturing, trade and education remain the largest employers, matching long-term structural patterns.
Most vacancies are concentrated in Harju County, reflecting Tallinn’s dominant role.
Labour turnover decreased by ~1%, indicating slightly lower hiring and separation rates.
🔎 Regional picture: a synchronised cooling cycle
Across all three countries, the signals are consistent:
📉 Vacancies are falling everywhere
Latvia: –16%
Lithuania: –12%
Estonia: –5%
📊 But employment levels remain stable
Latvia: +0.3%
Lithuania: near-flat employment, with minor year-on-year growth
Estonia: stable total posts, small fluctuations
🏭 Sectoral patterns repeat across the region
Public services are short of people in all three countries (especially Latvia and Estonia).
Manufacturing and logistics show strong demand in Lithuania and stable hiring needs in Estonia.
Transport & storage is a high-demand sector in Latvia and Lithuania.
Education and healthcare appear consistently among vacancy-heavy sectors.
Energy and IT remain pockets of resilience, particularly in Lithuania.
🌍 What it means for 2026
The Baltics are experiencing a soft labour-market correction: employers post fewer vacancies but do not reduce total employment.
Demand is becoming more selective, concentrating in sectors tied to public services, industry, logistics, energy, healthcare and digitalisation.
The main challenge ahead: preventing this cooling cycle from widening regional and skills gaps — especially between capital regions and peripheral territories such as Latgale or smaller Lithuanian and Estonian municipalities. #BalticLabour #BalticEconomy #LabourMarket #JobVacancies #Latvia #Lithuania #Estonia #BalticRegion #EmploymentTrends #Workforce #Economy2025 #DataDriven
Hydrogen in the Baltics: Projects, Numbers and Why the Market Is Not Taking Off
(Material 1 in the “Hydrogen vs Biomethane” series)
The EU’s official target remains ambitious: tens of millions of tonnes of renewable hydrogen by 2030 and a continental hydrogen backbone connecting industrial clusters. But by the end of 2025, Europe’s own regulators describe the market as far behind schedule: production is expensive, electrolysers are deployed far more slowly than planned, and energy companies hesitate to commit without clear rules.
The Baltic region reflects this European reality in a very precise way. It has projects, pilot infrastructure and political declarations — but not a viable hydrogen market. Looking at concrete cases shows why.
1. EU reality: targets vs deployment
Across Europe, hydrogen faces three systemic constraints:
Cost — Green hydrogen remains several times more expensive than fossil alternatives once electricity, balancing and capital costs are included.
Electrolyser scale — Installed capacity by the end of 2024 reached only a fraction of the planned gigawatt-level deployment.
Regulatory uncertainty — Companies face overlapping definitions of “renewable” and “low-carbon” hydrogen, sustainability rules and inconsistent national support schemes.
The gap between political ambition and technological readiness drives a broad market slowdown.
2. Baltic projects: real, but limited in purpose
Klaipėda hydrogen hub
Klaipėda is currently the most advanced hydrogen project in the region. The port is building a production and refuelling facility intended for:
port machinery and trucks,
visiting vessels,
and, from 2026, public hydrogen refuelling.
This is strategically valuable, but its scale is modest. The project is designed to support port operations and early adopters — not to supply industry or export hydrogen.
BalticSeaH2 and the Finnish–Estonian “valley”
The cross-border hydrogen valley centred on Finland and Estonia aims to test production, mobility and industrial use in a coordinated way. It is a research and demonstration platform, not a commercial system. Its purpose is to generate knowledge, validate technologies and map market models, not to deliver large volumes of hydrogen.
3. Fokker Next Gen Latvia: a hydrogen aviation case that never industrialised
The hydrogen aircraft concept promoted in Latvia in 2023–2024 illustrates how far expectations can run ahead of industrial reality.
Latvia expected a production line in Liepāja, cooperation with universities and dozens of engineering jobs.
In practice, the Latvian company behind the project was a small legal entity with minimal capital, no team and no physical activity.
By late 2025, it entered liquidation, and all aviation development work consolidated in the Netherlands.
This case is not a scandal. It shows how hydrogen aviation remains a long-cycle R&D field and why complex aerospace projects naturally gravitate toward ecosystems that already have certification capacity, suppliers and qualified labour.
4. Local hydrogen valleys: infrastructure without a market
Several Baltic cities announced “hydrogen valleys” to support public transport or mobility pilots. The reality is simpler:
hydrogen for buses is almost always produced from natural gas,
retail prices often exceed ten euros per kilogram,
utilisation rates are low,
lifecycle emissions are not better than diesel,
and operating costs remain significantly higher than electric alternatives.
These projects deliver experience and data, but they do not create a sustainable hydrogen economy.
5. Structural constraint: the Baltic electricity balance
Hydrogen is, above all, an electricity product.
Large-scale green hydrogen requires:
A stable surplus of renewable electricity,
Low prices for long operating hours,
Balancing flexibility in the grid.
Baltic electricity systems still face the opposite profile:
Latvia covers only part of its consumption from domestic generation and remains a net importer in most quarters.
Lithuania and Estonia also carry structural deficits on an
(Material 1 in the “Hydrogen vs Biomethane” series)
The EU’s official target remains ambitious: tens of millions of tonnes of renewable hydrogen by 2030 and a continental hydrogen backbone connecting industrial clusters. But by the end of 2025, Europe’s own regulators describe the market as far behind schedule: production is expensive, electrolysers are deployed far more slowly than planned, and energy companies hesitate to commit without clear rules.
The Baltic region reflects this European reality in a very precise way. It has projects, pilot infrastructure and political declarations — but not a viable hydrogen market. Looking at concrete cases shows why.
1. EU reality: targets vs deployment
Across Europe, hydrogen faces three systemic constraints:
Cost — Green hydrogen remains several times more expensive than fossil alternatives once electricity, balancing and capital costs are included.
Electrolyser scale — Installed capacity by the end of 2024 reached only a fraction of the planned gigawatt-level deployment.
Regulatory uncertainty — Companies face overlapping definitions of “renewable” and “low-carbon” hydrogen, sustainability rules and inconsistent national support schemes.
The gap between political ambition and technological readiness drives a broad market slowdown.
2. Baltic projects: real, but limited in purpose
Klaipėda hydrogen hub
Klaipėda is currently the most advanced hydrogen project in the region. The port is building a production and refuelling facility intended for:
port machinery and trucks,
visiting vessels,
and, from 2026, public hydrogen refuelling.
This is strategically valuable, but its scale is modest. The project is designed to support port operations and early adopters — not to supply industry or export hydrogen.
BalticSeaH2 and the Finnish–Estonian “valley”
The cross-border hydrogen valley centred on Finland and Estonia aims to test production, mobility and industrial use in a coordinated way. It is a research and demonstration platform, not a commercial system. Its purpose is to generate knowledge, validate technologies and map market models, not to deliver large volumes of hydrogen.
3. Fokker Next Gen Latvia: a hydrogen aviation case that never industrialised
The hydrogen aircraft concept promoted in Latvia in 2023–2024 illustrates how far expectations can run ahead of industrial reality.
Latvia expected a production line in Liepāja, cooperation with universities and dozens of engineering jobs.
In practice, the Latvian company behind the project was a small legal entity with minimal capital, no team and no physical activity.
By late 2025, it entered liquidation, and all aviation development work consolidated in the Netherlands.
This case is not a scandal. It shows how hydrogen aviation remains a long-cycle R&D field and why complex aerospace projects naturally gravitate toward ecosystems that already have certification capacity, suppliers and qualified labour.
4. Local hydrogen valleys: infrastructure without a market
Several Baltic cities announced “hydrogen valleys” to support public transport or mobility pilots. The reality is simpler:
hydrogen for buses is almost always produced from natural gas,
retail prices often exceed ten euros per kilogram,
utilisation rates are low,
lifecycle emissions are not better than diesel,
and operating costs remain significantly higher than electric alternatives.
These projects deliver experience and data, but they do not create a sustainable hydrogen economy.
5. Structural constraint: the Baltic electricity balance
Hydrogen is, above all, an electricity product.
Large-scale green hydrogen requires:
A stable surplus of renewable electricity,
Low prices for long operating hours,
Balancing flexibility in the grid.
Baltic electricity systems still face the opposite profile:
Latvia covers only part of its consumption from domestic generation and remains a net importer in most quarters.
Lithuania and Estonia also carry structural deficits on an
Baltic Trade in October: Latvia slows, Estonia accelerates, Lithuania slips
Core facts
🇱🇻 Latvia:
• Foreign trade turnover reached €3.9bn (+2.5% y-o-y).
• Exports: €1.81bn (+2.2%), imports: €2.10bn (+2.9%).
• Export growth driven by minerals (+17%), transport equipment (+27%), electronics (+7%), food (+10%).
• Sharp decline in agricultural exports (-25%), especially cereals (-28%).
• Trade deficit widened slightly as export share slipped from 46.5% → 46.3%.
• Strongest partners: Lithuania (18.4%), Estonia (11%), Germany (6.6%).
• Imports from Russia collapsed –85%, exports to Russia rose modestly +1.5% (food products).
🇪🇪 Estonia:
• Exports €1.72bn (+5%), imports €2.05bn (+4%), deficit €323m (slightly lower y-o-y).
• Goods of Estonian origin fell –3%, while re-exports jumped +19% — mainly mineral products and agri-food goods.
• Biggest rises: minerals (+21%), machinery (+15%).
• Exports to the US dropped sharply (-35%), continuing a multi-month decline.
• Top partners: Finland (14%), Latvia (13%), Sweden (9%).
• Imports up for agri-food (+8%), down for transport equipment (-17%).
🇱🇹 Lithuania:
• Exports €3.21bn (-0.6%), imports €3.71bn (-0.1%); deficit €504.7m.
• Goods of Lithuanian origin: -1.3% y-o-y; excluding mineral products: -3.8%.
• Largest export drops came from oil seeds (-67%) and chemical products (-21%).
• Imports fell mainly due to mineral fuels (-29%) and organic chemicals (-59%).
• January–October: exports -1.1%, imports +4.5%; structural pressure from rising machinery and transport equipment imports.
Context
Baltic trade in October shows three diverging dynamics:
• Latvia posts moderate growth driven by manufactured goods and minerals, but agriculture weakens.
• Estonia grows on re-exports, masking the slowdown in domestic-origin goods — a structural shift visible for several months.
• Lithuania enters mild contraction, pulled down by volatility in mineral and agricultural commodities.
Across the region, machinery, electronics and transport equipment remain the strongest import drivers — signalling continued industrial upgrading but widening trade gaps.
BSM © 2025 | balticfocus.org #balticfocus
Core facts
🇱🇻 Latvia:
• Foreign trade turnover reached €3.9bn (+2.5% y-o-y).
• Exports: €1.81bn (+2.2%), imports: €2.10bn (+2.9%).
• Export growth driven by minerals (+17%), transport equipment (+27%), electronics (+7%), food (+10%).
• Sharp decline in agricultural exports (-25%), especially cereals (-28%).
• Trade deficit widened slightly as export share slipped from 46.5% → 46.3%.
• Strongest partners: Lithuania (18.4%), Estonia (11%), Germany (6.6%).
• Imports from Russia collapsed –85%, exports to Russia rose modestly +1.5% (food products).
🇪🇪 Estonia:
• Exports €1.72bn (+5%), imports €2.05bn (+4%), deficit €323m (slightly lower y-o-y).
• Goods of Estonian origin fell –3%, while re-exports jumped +19% — mainly mineral products and agri-food goods.
• Biggest rises: minerals (+21%), machinery (+15%).
• Exports to the US dropped sharply (-35%), continuing a multi-month decline.
• Top partners: Finland (14%), Latvia (13%), Sweden (9%).
• Imports up for agri-food (+8%), down for transport equipment (-17%).
🇱🇹 Lithuania:
• Exports €3.21bn (-0.6%), imports €3.71bn (-0.1%); deficit €504.7m.
• Goods of Lithuanian origin: -1.3% y-o-y; excluding mineral products: -3.8%.
• Largest export drops came from oil seeds (-67%) and chemical products (-21%).
• Imports fell mainly due to mineral fuels (-29%) and organic chemicals (-59%).
• January–October: exports -1.1%, imports +4.5%; structural pressure from rising machinery and transport equipment imports.
Context
Baltic trade in October shows three diverging dynamics:
• Latvia posts moderate growth driven by manufactured goods and minerals, but agriculture weakens.
• Estonia grows on re-exports, masking the slowdown in domestic-origin goods — a structural shift visible for several months.
• Lithuania enters mild contraction, pulled down by volatility in mineral and agricultural commodities.
Across the region, machinery, electronics and transport equipment remain the strongest import drivers — signalling continued industrial upgrading but widening trade gaps.
BSM © 2025 | balticfocus.org #balticfocus
🇱🇻 Latvia buys 9 battery trains — what the Baltic passenger fleet looks like
Latvia has signed an €89.4M contract with Škoda Group for nine battery-electric trains (BEMU), with delivery by 2029.
The units will replace ageing diesel trains on the Daugavpils and Cēsis corridors, with an option for seven more.
Against this backdrop, here is the current passenger fleet across the Baltic region:
🇪🇪 Estonia — Elron
Main rolling stock:
• Stadler FLIRT (electric & diesel) — the backbone of Estonia’s passenger network, operating on all key routes (Tallinn–Tartu, Tallinn–Narva, Pärnu region).
• New Škoda EMUs (16 units) — entering service from 2025, replacing older stock on electrified lines.
📌 Estonia is the only Baltic state that has already phased out old Soviet-era diesel trains — the fleet is the most unified in the region.
🇱🇹 Lithuania — LTG Link
Main rolling stock:
• Pesa 730ML — diesel sets used on long intercity routes (Vilnius–Klaipėda, Vilnius–Šiauliai–Riga).
• Škoda EJ575 EMUs — serving the Vilnius–Kaunas electrified corridor.
• Stadler FLIRT (electric/hybrid) — expanding the fleet and gradually becoming the regional standard.
📌 Lithuania is the only Baltic country where major intercity lines still rely primarily on diesel traction.
🇱🇻 Latvia — Vivi / ATD
Main rolling stock:
• Škoda 16Ev EMUs (32 units) — new electric trains operating on Riga’s electrified corridors (Aizkraukle, Tukums, Jelgava, Sigulda).
• Legacy DR1A diesel units (1980–1992) — currently serving non-electrified routes (Riga–Daugavpils, Riga–Rēzekne, Riga–Valmiera).
• New Škoda BEMU fleet (9 + option for 7) — to begin replacing diesel trains from 2029, covering the Daugavpils and Cēsis corridors.
📌 Latvia becomes the first Baltic state to introduce a battery-train fleet as an alternative to large-scale electrification.
🛤 Trans-Baltic Corridor (Tallinn–Riga–Vilnius)
Passengers today travel on a combined three-operator chain with transfers:
• Elron FLIRT — Tallinn → Valga
• Vivi / Pesa 730ML — Valga → Riga
• LTG Link Pesa 730ML — Riga → Vilnius
A unified ticket exists, but no through-running train yet.
🔎 Three countries — three strategies
• Estonia: fleet modernisation + Stadler standardisation → almost fully renewed fleet.
• Lithuania: mixed fleet; diesel remains dominant on long-distance lines.
• Latvia: EMUs + shift toward battery operation instead of full electrification.
📌 Latvia’s BEMU order reinforces a shared regional trend: the Baltics are moving away from diesel, but each country follows a different technological path — electrification, unification, or battery hybridisation.#BalticFocus #Transport #RailBaltics #Latvia #Estonia #Lithuania #Škoda #BEMU #Vivi #Elron #LTGLink #EnergyTransition #Mobility
Latvia has signed an €89.4M contract with Škoda Group for nine battery-electric trains (BEMU), with delivery by 2029.
The units will replace ageing diesel trains on the Daugavpils and Cēsis corridors, with an option for seven more.
Against this backdrop, here is the current passenger fleet across the Baltic region:
🇪🇪 Estonia — Elron
Main rolling stock:
• Stadler FLIRT (electric & diesel) — the backbone of Estonia’s passenger network, operating on all key routes (Tallinn–Tartu, Tallinn–Narva, Pärnu region).
• New Škoda EMUs (16 units) — entering service from 2025, replacing older stock on electrified lines.
📌 Estonia is the only Baltic state that has already phased out old Soviet-era diesel trains — the fleet is the most unified in the region.
🇱🇹 Lithuania — LTG Link
Main rolling stock:
• Pesa 730ML — diesel sets used on long intercity routes (Vilnius–Klaipėda, Vilnius–Šiauliai–Riga).
• Škoda EJ575 EMUs — serving the Vilnius–Kaunas electrified corridor.
• Stadler FLIRT (electric/hybrid) — expanding the fleet and gradually becoming the regional standard.
📌 Lithuania is the only Baltic country where major intercity lines still rely primarily on diesel traction.
🇱🇻 Latvia — Vivi / ATD
Main rolling stock:
• Škoda 16Ev EMUs (32 units) — new electric trains operating on Riga’s electrified corridors (Aizkraukle, Tukums, Jelgava, Sigulda).
• Legacy DR1A diesel units (1980–1992) — currently serving non-electrified routes (Riga–Daugavpils, Riga–Rēzekne, Riga–Valmiera).
• New Škoda BEMU fleet (9 + option for 7) — to begin replacing diesel trains from 2029, covering the Daugavpils and Cēsis corridors.
📌 Latvia becomes the first Baltic state to introduce a battery-train fleet as an alternative to large-scale electrification.
🛤 Trans-Baltic Corridor (Tallinn–Riga–Vilnius)
Passengers today travel on a combined three-operator chain with transfers:
• Elron FLIRT — Tallinn → Valga
• Vivi / Pesa 730ML — Valga → Riga
• LTG Link Pesa 730ML — Riga → Vilnius
A unified ticket exists, but no through-running train yet.
🔎 Three countries — three strategies
• Estonia: fleet modernisation + Stadler standardisation → almost fully renewed fleet.
• Lithuania: mixed fleet; diesel remains dominant on long-distance lines.
• Latvia: EMUs + shift toward battery operation instead of full electrification.
📌 Latvia’s BEMU order reinforces a shared regional trend: the Baltics are moving away from diesel, but each country follows a different technological path — electrification, unification, or battery hybridisation.#BalticFocus #Transport #RailBaltics #Latvia #Estonia #Lithuania #Škoda #BEMU #Vivi #Elron #LTGLink #EnergyTransition #Mobility