Freight Transport Center in Lübeck

The world of logistics is changing, and in the middle of it all, one location is positioning itself as an indispensable link between Central Europe and the Baltic Sea region: the Lübeck freight village. But what makes this location so attractive for companies? Is it just the proximity to the water or is there a profound infrastructural ecosystem behind it? In this detailed location description, we shed light on all facets of one of the most dynamic logistics hubs in Germany.

Strategic Classification: What makes the Lübeck Freight Village so Special?

The Lübeck freight village is not a single, isolated business park, but a highly networked logistics network. It acts as the primary interface for freight flows between the DACH regions (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Italy and the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland) as well as the Baltic States.

The key question for investors: How does geography change the efficiency of my supply chain? The answer lies in the combination of geographical favor and specialized port infrastructure. While Hamburg is the gateway to the world, Lübeck is the gateway to the north.

Infrastructure and Technical Equipment: A Trimodal Powerhouse

The efficiency of a freight village is measured by its ability to smoothly link modes of transport. Lübeck meets the highest standards here due to its trimodality (rail, road, water).

Water connection: Germany's largest Baltic Sea port

The heart of the project is the connection to the Baltic Sea. With the Skandinavienkai, Lübeck has one of the most important RoRo (roll-on roll-off) and LoLo (lift-on lift-off) terminals in Europe.

• Handling volume: approx. 24–26 million tonnes per year (source: Lübecker Hafen-Gesellschaft – LHG).
• Frequencies: Daily departures to Malmö, Trelleborg, Helsinki and Hanko.

Rail connection: Intermodal excellence

The Baltic Rail Gate at Skandinavienkai is one of the most efficient intermodal terminals in hinterland traffic.

• Capacity: Over 140,000 units per year.
• Block trains: Direct connections to Verona (Italy), Duisburg and Ludwigshafen.

Road connection: The axis of the north

Lübeck is perfectly accessible via a dense motorway network:

• A1 (Vogelfluglinie): The main artery from the Benelux countries/Ruhr area to Copenhagen (in the future via the Fehmarnbelt link).
• A20 (Baltic Sea Motorway): The connection to the new federal states and Poland.
• A226: The direct feeder to the terminals.

Location and Geography: Why is Lübeck a Top Logistics Region?

Lübeck is part of the Schleswig-Holstein/Hamburg logistics region. The attractiveness results from the relief function for the Port of Hamburg and the exclusivity for Baltic Sea traffic.

Question: Why is Lübeck considered a crisis-resilient location? Because Baltic Sea trade often shows more stable growth rates in intra-European exchange compared to overseas trade (Asia/USA). The spatial concentration of the areas in the area of Seelandstraße and Skandinavienkai enables short distances between the warehouse and the transshipment point.

Economic Indicators: Rental Prices, Land Prices & Taxes

For logistics managers and project developers, the hard facts are crucial. Compared to Hamburg (top rents of up to €7.50/m²), Lübeck offers an attractive price-performance ratio.

Rental and land prices (as of 2024/2025)

Source: Lübeck Chamber of Industry and Commerce / Real Estate Market Report.

Tax rates

The tax burden is a decisive location factor for profitability.

• Trade tax rate: 450 % (Lübeck).
• Property tax B: 550%.

Note: Compared to other major German cities, Lübeck is in the moderate midfield here, which makes the location particularly attractive for medium-sized freight forwarders.

Companies Located Here: The Who's Who of the Industry

The density of global players and specialised service providers in the Lübeck freight village testifies to the quality of the location.

• Dräger: World market leader in medical and safety technology (central logistics in Lübeck).
• Niederegger: World-famous marzipan production with highly sensitive fresh food logistics.
• Brüggen: Specialist for muesli and cereal products with a large export share.
• Spedition Bode: Leader in intermodal transport Scandinavia-Italy.
• Dachser & Kuehne + Nagel: Present with large transhipment halls for general cargo and contract logistics.

Workforce and Skilled Worker Situation: The Human Factor

A logistics location is only as good as the people who work there. Lübeck benefits from a high density of educational institutions.

• Academic education: The Lübeck University of Applied Sciences offers specialized courses of study in industrial engineering and logistics.
• Skilled worker potential: A catchment area of over 500,000 people (Lübeck + surrounding area).
• Challenge: As everywhere in Germany, the shortage of skilled workers among truck drivers and warehouse clerks is noticeable. The freight transport center counteracts this through cooperation and modern working environments.

Key Facts at a Glance

Economic Development and Future: The Fehmarnbelt Link

Question: What will happen when the Fehmarnbelt tunnel opens in 2029?

The economic development of the Lübeck freight village is on the verge of a quantum leap. The fixed Fehmarnbelt link will reduce the travel time between Hamburg and Copenhagen to less than three hours.

1. Shift to Rail: Massive increase in capacity in rail freight transport.
2. Central warehouse function: Lübeck is becoming even more of an ideal location for central warehouses serving the entire Northern European market.
3. Sustainability: By expanding the shore power supply in the port, Lübeck is becoming a pioneer of "Green Logistics".

Conclusion: Why you should Invest in the Lübeck Freight Village

The Lübeck freight village offers a rare combination of historically grown expertise and future-oriented infrastructure. It is the ideal location for companies that:

• want to improve their CO2 balance through intermodal rail transport.
• Seek a direct line to the Scandinavian growth markets.
• Attach importance to moderate space costs with excellent connections at the same time.

Lübeck has long since ceased to be just the city of seven towers – it is the engine of northern European logistics.