Polish infrastructure manager PKP PLK has officially acquired 100% of the shares of Cargotor, the company in charge of the line and terminal in Małaszewicze. The move allows the seller, PKP Cargo, to “obtain the necessary funds during the restructuring process”.
The transaction was closed at 28,8 million PLN (6,8 million euros). The deal was sealed faster than initially expected. When PKP Cargo and PKP PLK signed the investment agreement a couple of weeks ago, they estimated it would be finalised by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
Cargotor’s sale and PKP Cargo’s restructuring
The sale of Cargotor to PKP PLK started over four years ago, in November 2021, with the approval from Polish authorities obtained in January 2023. Cargotor plays a key role in connecting Europe and Asia as it manages the terminal and the infrastructure of the Małaszewicze Transshipment Area, on the border with Belarus. This is the main entry point for freight trains coming from China into the EU.
PKP Cargo will use the funds to contribute to its restructuring, launched in 2022 to return to profitability. Other than the sale of important assets such as Cargotor, PKP Cargo also fired thousands of employees to drastically reduce costs. Operationally, the impact of the restructuring can already be felt, as the company is increasing its market share and growing its intermodal volumes.