Hapag-Lloyd, a major German container shipping company, has completed the purchase of a 25% stake in APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, located in Rotterdam. This move strengthens its partnership with Maersk at one of Europe’s most advanced container terminals.
The acquisition was announced on Friday after receiving approval from antitrust authorities. It provides Hapag-Lloyd with long-term access to container handling capacity at this automated terminal. However, financial details were not disclosed.
APM Terminals, owned by Maersk, maintains a 75% stake and continues to operate the terminal, which is a crucial hub in Europe for the Gemini Cooperation—a vessel-sharing partnership formed by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd in February 2025.
This deal, initially revealed in August, coincides with a significant expansion of the terminal aimed at increasing its annual handling capacity to about 5.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).
Dheeraj Bhatia, Hapag-Lloyd’s chief terminal and infrastructure officer, expressed satisfaction about the deal: “We are very pleased to have completed this transaction and become a shareholder in Maasvlakte II.”
He added, “Together with APM Terminals, we look forward to supporting the terminal’s continued growth and development, creating long-term value for our customers and further strengthening Rotterdam’s role as a major European gateway.”
The Maasvlakte II terminal, which started operations in 2015, is recognized as one of the world’s most automated container facilities. Its expansion includes an additional 1,000 meters of deep-sea quay, which will double its total berth length to 2,000 meters, along with increased yard capability, four new rail tracks, and more automated equipment.
As reported by gCaptain in April 2023, the terminal's expansion project plans to develop an extra 47.5 hectares of space to handle the growing container traffic through Europe’s largest port.
This investment aligns with Hapag-Lloyd’s broader strategy to expand its terminal operations via Hanseatic Global Terminals, which was established in 2023. The division currently holds interests in 24 marine terminals globally and aims to grow its portfolio to about 30 by 2030.
For both Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, this agreement further aligns their terminal interests at a major hub for the Gemini network, which is designed to enhance schedule reliability through a hub-and-spoke model.
Harold Kunst, managing director of APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, noted that Hapag-Lloyd’s involvement would aid the terminal’s growth while still focusing on serving all customers. “Hapag-Lloyd’s participation as a shareholder supports the terminal’s long-term growth and our ongoing expansion, while our focus remains unchanged: operating safely and reliably for all our customers and providing the additional capacity and performance they require,” Kunst said.