China Navigation buys Hamburg Süd’s bulk shipping arm

Since Maersk acquired Hamburg Süd in 2017, it is focusing on the container liner business.

   China Navigation Co. will acquire the the bulk shipping activities of Hamburg Süd.
   A.P. Møller – Maersk acquired the bulk shipping, tanker and container liner businesses of Hamburg Süd in November 2017.
    By selling the bulk business, “Hamburg Süd is focusing as planned on its liner business with its two container shipping brands, Hamburg Süd and Aliança,” said Arnt Vespermann, chief executive officer of Hamburg Süd. “As part of Maersk, the world’s largest liner shipping company, this clear focus is a logical step.”
   He said China Navigation, a subsidiary of Swire Group, would make a “good new home” for Hamburg Süd’s bulk businesses, which operate under the names Rudolf A. Oetker (RAO), Furness Withy Chartering and the bulk activities in Alianca Navegacão (Aliabulk).
   The bulk shipping business in Hamburg Süd operates from Hamburg, London, Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro with a chartered fleet of approximately 45 vessels in the Handysize, Supra/Ultramax and Kamsarmax/Panamax sizes.
   Whereas liner shipping activities in Hamburg Süd that remain part of A.P. Møller – Maersk involve transporting cargo in containers in regular port rotations, bulk shipping involves flexibly transporting dry goods, such as agricultural raw materials, ore and steel, in bulk carriers from port to port worldwide, depending on the customer’s requirements. 
   Headquartered in Singapore, China Navigation is the wholly owned deep-sea ship owning and operating division of the multinational Swire Group. Today, the company employs around 2,500 employees globally and owns and operates about 135 vessels consisting mainly of dry bulk carriers and multipurpose liner vessels. Swire Bulk, its dry bulk trading business, was established in 2012 and trades a modern fuel-efficient fleet of more than 100 Handysize and Supra/Ultramax vessels comprising owned, long-term and short-term chartered tonnage. 
   Closing of the agreement is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2019, subject to regulatory approval. The parties have agreed not to disclose the sales price.
   The RAO Tankers business unit is not included in the sale and will remain part of the Hamburg Süd Group for the time being.