MSC's Stake in Hamburg Port Reshapes North Europe Trade Hub

Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), the largest container shipping line globally, has finalized its acquisition of a major stake in the Port of Hamburg, bringing significant changes to the container port landscape in northern Europe.

MSC now holds a 49.9% share in Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft (HHLA), with the city of Hamburg retaining a slight majority stake of 50.1% in the port’s primary terminal operator.

“Gateway to the world. That’s what the port is called, not just in Hamburg. As a family-owned company, we understand this tradition and responsibility. We want to play our part in pushing the gateway to the world further open,” said Søren Toft, CEO of MSC.

The shipping giant has committed to increasing throughput at HHLA’s terminals to at least 1 million TEU annually by 2031. Additionally, MSC and Hamburg’s city officials have agreed to invest €450 million in equity to support crucial upgrades and developments at HHLA.

As part of its expanded presence, MSC will establish its new German headquarters in HafenCity, Hamburg, with plans to hire around 700 employees. Construction on the headquarters is set to begin in 2026.