The German container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd will acquire the box line business of its compatriot carrier Deutsche Afrika-Linien (DAL).
Although the completion of the transaction is still subject to the approval of the responsible antitrust authorities, the two Hamburg-based companies have signed a framework agreement.
With this acquisition, Hapag-Lloyd aims to strengthen its position in Africa, which remains an important strategic growth market for the company's CEO Rolf Habben Jansen, who said, "Particularly for our service offering from and to South Africa, DAL is a valuable addition allowing us to offer our customers a better network and additional port coverage in this region."
Last year, Hapag-Lloyd acquired Africa-specialised carrier NileDutch, which significantly strengthened the carrier's presence and service offering to and from West Africa, while it also opened new offices in Kenya, Morocco and Senegal. Back in 2020, the company established a Quality Service Center (QSC) in Mauritius.
With a history dating back to the year 1890, DAL is an established liner shipping company for the transportation of containerised cargo and operates with four liner services between Europe, South Africa and the Indian Ocean. The Africa expert is represented with its own offices in Germany and South Africa as well as through third-party agents in 47 countries worldwide.
Their liner business (including agencies) employs more than 150 people. DAL owns a 6,589 TEU container ship and operates a container fleet of around 17,800 boxes (owned and leased), which will be taken over as part of the acquisition.
"With their broad experience and market knowledge, they will significantly support us to further grow in Africa," commented Rolf Habben Jansen.
