The Montenegro Transport Association warned on 11 July that domestic road-haulage companies are entering a more competitive European environment with insufficient state support, weak capitalisation and relatively small fleets.
Association president Đorđije Lješnjak argued that Croatian carriers have benefited from a more structured national approach, while Montenegrin operators face narrow margins and risk becoming low-price subcontractors or cabotage providers after deeper EU-market integration.
The statement is an industry position rather than independently audited market data, but it highlights a credible structural risk. Montenegro’s logistics sector must finance cleaner vehicles, digital tachographs, driver retention, insurance and EU compliance while operating from a small domestic freight base. Without consolidation or targeted financing, market opening could increase trade efficiency while reducing the domestic share of transport revenues.
A draft Inland Navigation Law could create a separate investment channel around Lake Skadar, the Bojana River and Rijeka Crnojevića. The proposal establishes technical and environmental rules, a river-information service, port and berth management, and the possibility of concessions and public-private partnerships.
The immediate opportunity is modest, but a clearer concession framework could support regulated passenger transport, marinas, tourism services and environmental infrastructure in areas where commercial activity has previously operated under fragmented rules.
