Hapag-Lloyd is strengthening its position at the Port of Rotterdam. The shipping line has signed an agreement with APM Terminals to acquire 25% of APM Terminals Maasvlakte II B.V.
APM Terminals will continue to operate the facility and retain responsibility for its operations. The purchase price has not been disclosed. Completion of the transaction remains subject to the applicable government and regulatory approvals.
The investment is strategically important for Hapag-Lloyd because Maasvlakte II is one of the key European hubs for the Gemini Cooperation with Maersk. The stake is intended to give the carrier long-term access to automated container-handling capacity at a key location in its liner network.
Our planned investment in Rotterdam will further improve the efficiency and reliability of our network. The terminal is an important part of the Gemini Cooperation and fits closely with our strategy of expanding our terminal portfolio in core markets, said Dheeraj Bhatia, CTIO of Hapag-Lloyd AG and CEO of Hanseatic Global Terminals.
The stake will become part of Hanseatic Global Terminals (HGT), the platform under which Hapag-Lloyd groups its terminal and infrastructure activities.
Maasvlakte II set to reach 5.4 million TEU
Hapag-Lloyd is entering the terminal as APM Terminals undertakes a major expansion. In operation since 2015, the Maasvlakte II facility is being extended by 1,000 additional metres of deepwater quay, doubling the total quay length to 2,000 metres.
The project also includes additional container yard space, four additional rail tracks, more automated equipment and additional automated terminal tractors.
Once the expansion is complete, annual throughput capacity is expected to reach up to 5.4 million TEU. The additional capacity is expected to support major container services and strengthen Rotterdam’s role as a hub for the Gemini Cooperation’s European operations.
For APM Terminals, the investment means that a major terminal customer is also making a long-term financial commitment to Maasvlakte II.
Hapag-Lloyd’s investment is a strong vote of confidence in a terminal that is vital to both the Gemini network and Rotterdam, said Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals.
Why the deal matters for Rotterdam
For Rotterdam, the agreement involves more than additional investment. A major terminal customer is also taking an ownership stake.
That shared interest could strengthen Maasvlakte II’s position within the Gemini network over the long term. Hapag-Lloyd will have a direct commercial interest in the terminal’s performance and future development, while APM Terminals will remain responsible for operations.
The agreement also deepens cooperation between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk beyond vessel operations. APM Terminals is part of the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group, while the two shipping lines jointly organise their liner services through the Gemini Cooperation.
For Hapag-Lloyd, Rotterdam adds another strategic terminal location in Northern Europe. In Germany, the carrier already holds stakes in Container Terminal Altenwerder in Hamburg and Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven.
The agreement underscores Hapag-Lloyd’s intention to make Rotterdam more than a port of call. Through the stake in Maasvlakte II, the port is set to become an infrastructure-backed core location for the Gemini network.
