Hapag-Lloyd has opened two new offices in Bulgaria, with teams to serve its customers in the port city of Varna and the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

In the statement, the German international shipping and container transportation company noted that Bulgaria — with a population of around 7.1 million — has become an attractive market within the European Union, strategically located in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula.

The Bulgarian economy has expanded significantly in recent years, with GDP growth expected to remain strong at about 3.5% in 2023 and 2024.

It added that the country also has a strong energy sector but is also growing substantially in sectors such as mining, metallurgy, engineering, agriculture and tourism.

"The main industrial exports are refined copper, seeds, food additives, medical equipment, tobacco, machinery, copper and zinc. Major imports include machinery and appliances, solar equipment, bicycles and construction materials," Hapag-Lloyd added.

It said that Bulgaria is an "attractive growth market" for Hapag-Lloyd and occupies a strategic position in Southeast Europe.

Hapag-Lloyd operates with three weekly calls, connecting the Bulgarian ports of Burgas and Varna to key locations in the Middle East, the USA, intra-Europe, and Asia.

Additionally, from Bulgaria, Central and Eastern European countries are covered through the pan-European Rhine-Danube corridor, utilising trucks and trains.

"Our new offices in Bulgaria demonstrate our commitment to the Black Sea region. Bulgaria is an attractive growth market for us with two major ports and good hinterland connections by road and rail," said Juan Pablo Richards, senior managing director of Region South Europe at Hapag-Lloyd.

"We are very pleased to open our own offices in this strategically important location, which will allow us to better serve our customers in the Black Sea region and the Balkan Area," he added.