Hungary and the global transportation area

Abstract

For the Hungarian economy, the extent in which it can be involved in the global sea shipping system is important. Trade with distant continents (within the appropriate conditions) can generate profit thanks to comparative advantages. Hungary’s economy was already highly oriented towards European exports even in the 20th century. The restructuring of the last decades, furthermore, increased the importance of distant (mainly East Asian) procurement markets. Therefore, considering that maritime shipping (except for most of Russia and Central Asia) may be the only means of transport to these place, the extent in which it can integrate into the global freight system can be a key factor.

Looking at the various options, the author gives an overview of the former history of Danube maritime shipping and deep-sea shipping, the causes and consequences of their disappearance, and the contemporary novel options for selecting a harbor (emerged thanks to transport technology innovations).

The article also presents opinions about the necessity of domestic shipping and of a national fleet. It describes how and why the dilemma around survival versus elimination represented the collision of the interests of shipping professional and the port of Csepel (to accommodate smaller maritime vessels) with the alleged interests of the national economy.

The author considers the earlier termination as a “quasi-rational” option because the primary factor in decision-making was the lack of capital needed to purchase container ships. In light of contemporary economic calculations, however, now there are several arguments for shipping with foreign companies.

Hungary, nevertheless, is in a better position to reach a global aviation space. In spite of the disappearance of the national airline (MALÉV), Budapest has several direct routes to the main cities of neighboring Western and Eastern Balkan countries. However, the role of the regional hub remains in Vienna (and partly in Prague).

In the future, the nearby ports of Istria will increase Hungary’s foreign trade, but the number of direct global air routes will not increase significantly.

In Hungarian foreign trade and tourism, the weight of global relations is growing, but its share from goods and passenger transport and logistics (with the highest competition) will only be modest (through complementary and traffic management activities).