CMA CGM to Acquire 20% Stake in Hamburg Terminal

France’s CMA CGM Group is set to strengthen its European port network through the planned acquisition of a 20% stake in Eurogate Container Terminal Hamburg (CTH), one of Northern Europe’s key container hubs.

The Marseille-based shipping and logistics company has signed a term sheet with Eurogate, with the deal expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approval.

CTH currently handles around 4 million teu annually and is recognized as one of Germany’s most efficient terminals. The facility’s upcoming Western Expansion project, which includes 38 hectares of new yard space and a 1,050-meter quay wall, will increase capacity to about 6 million teu and accommodate next-generation container ships.

CMA CGM already operates at CTH through its flagship FAL service, which links Asia and Northern Europe using 23,000 teu LNG-powered megamax vessels.

According to the company, the investment aligns with CMA CGM’s long-term strategy to expand its global terminal portfolio and strengthen its presence across major European gateways. The group, which holds interests in 64 terminals worldwide, said the move will improve regional logistics resilience, enhance intermodal connectivity, and promote low-carbon transport solutions.

Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, said the partnership would “help enhance the terminal’s capacity, strengthen its rail connections, and support its move towards more sustainable operations.”

The acquisition will also contribute to Eurogate’s efforts to modernize Hamburg’s port infrastructure. CTH has a direct link to Eurokombi, Germany’s largest intermodal rail hub, which provides rapid access to Central and Eastern Europe.

CMA CGM’s investment reinforces its long-standing presence in Germany, where it first opened offices in Hamburg and Bremen in 1991. Today, Germany is part of the group’s regional cluster encompassing five countries, with 23 weekly vessel calls across Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven.

The move follows a series of foreign shipping line investments in Hamburg’s terminals. In 2023, COSCO Shipping Ports completed a 24.99% acquisition in Container Terminal Tollerort, while MSC, the world’s largest container carrier, purchased a 49.9% stake in HHLA, reshaping ownership structures within Northern Europe’s leading port.