Alfa Terminal Szczecin has established a strong position in methanol handling, as well as bulk and general cargo operations. However, the logistics company, owned by Kronospan, is not resting on its laurels and is carrying out an investment program that will enable it to spread its wings and significantly increase its cargo handling capacity.

Few people realize that Szczecin hosts the largest methanol terminal in this part of the Baltic. Alfa Terminal, which has been operating on the bulk and general cargo handling market for several years, is set to significantly increase its capabilities in the coming years due to an extensive investment process currently underway.

Leader in Methanol Handling

Alfa Terminal is the first marine terminal in Szczecin visible to the crews of ships entering the city from the north. Located on the western bank of the Oder River, just beyond the boundaries of the Stołczyn district and near Police, on the former site of the Szczecin Steelworks, the terminal is well-connected to both road and rail networks. Notably, the last owner of the Szczecin Steelworks was Kronospan, which is also the owner of the terminal.

As Maciej Grabowicz, the operational director of Alfa Terminal, explains, the terminal’s operations are based on two main pillars: chemical cargo handling, and bulk and general cargo. Currently, over a million tons of cargo are handled annually. In terms of chemicals, the terminal focuses on methanol but is expanding its tank storage capacity for other chemical products.

“With the new infrastructure we commissioned in 2020, we are the leader in methanol handling in this part of the Baltic. We have a new quay for loading, the first in Szczecin, adapted to accommodate ships with a draft of up to 11 meters. It is a dolphin quay with two loading arms,” says Grabowicz. “We also have a methanol storage facility. Currently, it holds 28,000 m³,” he adds.

However, this is just the current state—these figures will soon be outdated as another methanol storage tank is under construction.

“This tank is the first part of expanding our chemical storage base. The second part, which is already underway, involves building five 2,000 m³ tanks. This project is in an advanced stage and is expected to be completed by June-July 2025. It will allow us to handle additional liquid chemical products,” explains Grabowicz. He reveals that the company plans to handle products such as paraffins, gasoline, and other chemicals.

In the near future, Alfa Terminal will have warehouses with a total capacity of 90,100 m³. The KRA-2 quay, where methanol handling currently takes place, and which will eventually handle tankers carrying other liquid chemical cargo, has a length of 265 meters. Additionally, there are stations for loading road and rail tankers, dedicated railway sidings, tank truck parking, and other necessary supporting infrastructure, forming the picture of a large, modern marine terminal.

Prospects for Bulk and General Cargo Handling

Although Kronospan, the owner of Alfa Terminal, is clearly focused on chemical handling, the terminal has not forgotten the relatively recently launched section for bulk and general cargo. At Alfa Terminal, the main cargos include minerals, fertilizers, wood, and break bulk items such as cellulose, wood-based boards, and steel. The company also offers comprehensive services, ranging from big-bag packing and palletizing to coating urea with an inhibitor.

The bulk market is challenging and, in recent years, due to increased coal handling caused by the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, it has been subject to some fluctuations. However, Alfa Terminal has managed to avoid uncertainty.

“We decided not to handle coal. This has brought us some stability. Some companies lost out because they abandoned other clients in favor of coal,” comments Grabowicz. “The bulk market is tight and growing, but proportionally. Recently, it seems to have stabilized. There may be fewer loads, but we expect our volume to grow once we build a good storage base and offer excellent service.”

Over the past two years, Alfa Terminal has invested significantly in its bulk cargo base to compete on handling rates and vessel turnaround times. The entire fleet of cranes was replaced, including two new Sennebogen cranes—one rail-mounted electric crane and one mobile diesel-powered crane. A new mobile Liebherr LHM280 was also added. The KRA-1 quay was modernized over its entire length of 421.9 meters for 20 million PLN. Additionally, 20,000 m² of new storage areas were created. The second phase of the investment, currently being implemented, includes another 10,000 m² of storage for general cargo and bulk materials.

Excellent Investment Conditions

The company is also analyzing the possibility of constructing a third quay. On its property, there is space for an approximately 280-meter-long loading quay with a permissible draft of 11 meters, similar to the existing KRA-1 and KRA-2 quays. This is a potential opportunity for the future, and Alfa Terminal may wish to partner with other companies for investments in this area. Maciej Grabowicz emphasizes that the terminal still has about 48 hectares of land waiting to be developed and is eager to invite other companies to collaborate on investments in this area.

“We are open to cooperation with partners looking for space to place their businesses in ports, especially regarding chemical handling,” says Grabowicz.

Regarding the land owned by Alfa Terminal, it should be noted that it is the company's property. Alfa Terminal does not lease it from the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority, which has both advantages and disadvantages.

“The advantage is that we can make independent business decisions. The downside is that we carry out all investments ourselves. There are no funds from the state or the Seaports Authority,” clarifies Maciej Grabowicz.

The terminal’s director highlights the benefits of the land available at Alfa Terminal. It is well-connected to the rail network, with 10.5 km of railway sidings. Additionally, the company has its own sidings service, including locomotives and a team with the necessary qualifications. This is no coincidence—the terminal recognizes the advantages of intermodal transport, and such cargo handling has already appeared at the site. The location of the terminal is significant in the context of the planned Western Bypass of Szczecin, a ring road set to begin construction next year, which will bypass the city from the northwest. The company sees this route as a great opportunity for regional development. It will allow trucks to be diverted from Szczecin while also connecting Alfa Terminal not only to the expressway and motorway network but also to the German border. This is important because the company's revenue structure already partially relies on international clients.

Access to Alfa Terminal is also provided by the Oder River.

“We use the Oder to some extent. Our clients utilize it where it is navigable. We also send goods by barges to Germany, which travel via the canal system. If the Oder were navigable along its entire length, the number of Alfa Terminal clients who could freely deliver or pick up goods by barge would increase, replacing high-emission truck transport,” notes Grabowicz.

The current capabilities and prospects for the next few years suggest that Alfa Terminal looks confidently toward the future.

“I’m satisfied with where we are now,” concludes Maciej Grabowicz. “We are becoming a very modern, dynamically developing terminal with prospects for further investments,” he adds.