The German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has completed the acquisition of a 25% stake in APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, one of the container terminals at the Port of Rotterdam, after obtaining unconditional approval from the competition authorities. The deal, initially announced in August 2026, enables the company to secure long-term container-handling capacity at this automated facility, which is one of the main European operating hubs of the Gemini cooperation.
Following the closing of the transaction, APM Terminals, a subsidiary of the A.P. Møller-Mærsk Group, retains a 75% stake and operational control of the terminal. The two companies have agreed not to disclose the financial terms of the sale, which is part of Hapag-Lloyd's strategy of investing in port infrastructure through Hanseatic Global Terminals (HGT).
The German shipping company's acquisition of a stake in Maasvlakte II establishes a new business relationship between the two partners in Gemini Cooperation, the operational alliance that Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk launched in February 2025. This cooperation coordinates their maritime services through a network of main ports and feeder connections, with the aim of improving itinerary reliability and the coordination of port operations.
The transaction coincides with APM Terminals' expansion program at Maasvlakte II, a facility that began operating in 2015 and features automated systems for handling and storing containers. The works will bring annual capacity to approximately 5.4 million TEUs through the addition of new berthing infrastructure, storage areas and operational equipment.
