photo: Thies Rätzke / HHLA/Container handling at HHLA Container Terminal Altenwerder in Hamburg
The European Commission has approved MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company’s entry into the ownership of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA).
The decision, cleared under the EU Merger Regulation, allows MSC’s subsidiary SAS Shipping Agencies Services S.à.r.l. (SAS Lux) to gain joint control of HHLA alongside HGV Hamburger Gesellschaft für Vermögens- und Beteiligungsmanagement (HGV), which is linked to the City of Hamburg, according to Offshore Energy. Together, MSC and Hamburg hold over 92% of HHLA shares, driving the strategic development of the Port of Hamburg.
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The transaction, primarily involving container terminal services and logistics, aims to strengthen the port’s position amid growing global competition. HHLA operates three of the four container terminals in Hamburg, a crucial asset as the port seeks to expand its capacity and infrastructure.
After months of delays and opposition, the Hamburg Parliament approved the deal in September 2024, allowing MSC to acquire 49% of HHLA for EUR 233 million. The City of Hamburg retains control with a 51% stake, while MSC gains a 40-year contract for joint port management. The deal is essential to modernizing the Port of Hamburg, which handled 7.7 million containers in 2023—lagging behind competitors like Rotterdam, which managed 13.5 million, as The Maritime Executive reports.
While the deal has been praised for its potential to boost Hamburg’s competitiveness, it faced strong opposition from the ver.di trade union, citing concerns over job security, according to Ports Europe. Despite these concerns, MSC committed to no layoffs for five years and plans to handle one million containers in Hamburg by 2031. MSC is also establishing a regional office in the city as part of its strategy to expand its logistics operations across Europe.
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Source: Offshore Energy; The Maritime Executive