(Last review: September 7) On this page, media professionals will find the most recent official statements from Hapag-Lloyd regarding key company developments, strategic initiatives, and industry-related topics. All information is verified, reliable, and provided directly from the source.
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Statements
Q: How do you reflect on the passing of Klaus-Michael Kühne and his contribution to Hapag-Lloyd? (Statement by our CEO, Rolf Habben Jansen)
A: “Klaus-Michael Kühne had a very special relationship with Hapag-Lloyd. He followed our development with great interest and conviction and was there when the company needed strong and reliable shareholders. I greatly value his clear views, his passion for our industry and his genuine interest in Hapag-Lloyd’s long-term success. His contribution to our company will not be forgotten.”
Q: How did Hapag-Lloyd perform in the second quarter of 2026, and what are your priorities for the second half of the year? (Statement by our CEO, Rolf Habben Jansen)
A: "The second quarter was better than the first, driven by significantly higher spot rates and robust demand. Our Gemini network remained resilient and continued to outperform the market, setting the industry benchmark for schedule reliability. Additionally, the terminal business continues to grow and is becoming increasingly strategically relevant, supported by strong throughput and investment in new assets. In the second half of 2026, we will remain focused on growing both our liner shipping and terminal businesses while maintaining strict cost discipline to further improve our financial performance."
Q: How is strong growth on dominant trades affecting equipment and capacity needs? (Statement by our CEO, Rolf Habben Jansen)
A: “The imbalance is getting worse. That means the cost of empty boxes is going up. With overall growth of something like 15% over the three-year period, we still need 25% more capacity because that is driven by the dominant legs. It also makes the business relatively more asset-intensive because we need to grow the fleet faster than the overall flow of goods.”
Q: What is the status of the ZIM transaction?
A: "We have entered into a binding merger agreement with ZIM in February, which has been approved by the Company’s shareholders. We are currently working with the various regulatory bodies to obtain the necessary approvals."
Q: Why does the company still believe the transaction makes strategic sense?
A: "The deal rationale is pretty clear: securing our position in the market, get access to an efficient and modern fleet, access to a great team and a broad customer base. And of course, in the end, it's also about synergies, which we expect to be between 300 and 500 million dollars.
The business combination of Hapag-Lloyd and ZIM would secure Hapag-Lloyd’s market position as the fifth-largest container shipping company worldwide with a modern fleet of over 400 vessels, a standing capacity of over 3 million TEU, and an annual transport volume of more than 18 million TEU."
Q: How does the revised proposal for the acquisition of ZIM address the concerns of the Israeli government and the relevant authorities regarding Israel’s maritime security and independence? (Statement by our CEO, Rolf Habben Jansen)
A: “We have listened carefully to the needs raised during our discussions with the Israeli government and the relevant authorities. Together with our partners, we are now developing an improved proposal designed to further strengthen Israel’s maritime security and independence. The revised proposal will secure Israel’s access to key shipping routes, including routes from Asia, and strengthen the protections provided under the Golden Share framework. The agreement will also prevent any foreign interference in the transportation of Israel’s sensitive cargo, representing a significant improvement over the current arrangement. We believe this transaction would mark another important milestone in the close relationship between Germany and Israel.”
Q: What additional costs did Hapag-Lloyd incur as a result of the Middle East conflict? (Statement by our CEO, Rolf Habben Jansen)
A: “The large majority of the USD 600 million was higher oil prices. There were also the land bridges we had to build up, insurance costs and additional storage costs for boxes that were stuck for a while.”
Q: How has Hapag-Lloyd maintained supply chains in the region? (Statement by our CEO, Rolf Habben Jansen)
A: “We offer customers alternative routings. We have set up a number of land bridges to countries in the Upper Gulf, and that is working well. It causes quite a lot of additional cost, but we are able to keep those supply chains going.”
Q: What role does the Red Sea currently play for Hapag-Lloyd? Are vessels still operating in the region?
A: "The Red Sea currently plays only a limited role in our overall network, as the vast majority of our services continue to be routed around the Cape of Good Hope. Nevertheless, the Red Sea remains an important route for global trade.
The SE3 and SE4 service within the Gemini network is currently routed through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, using vessels operated by our Gemini partner Maersk. This decision was taken following a careful assessment of the security situation. We continue to monitor developments closely and will adjust the network if circumstances change. The safety of the crews and vessels, as well as the protection of the cargo, remain the determining factors."
Q: What is the current status of Hapag-Lloyd vessels that were affected by the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz?
A: "All Hapag-Lloyd vessels that were affected by the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz and had been waiting in the Persian Gulf to depart, have since safely left the Gulf. This was only done after careful assessment of the security situation and in close coordination with the relevant authorities, security partners and our teams on board and ashore. For security reasons, we will not comment on individual vessel names, routings or exact timings."
Q: What does the crisis show about Hapag-Lloyd’s network resilience?
A: “This crisis has shown that our network is resilient. The impact on the rest of our global network has been limited, and the hub-and-spoke structure we operate in Gemini together with Maersk has again proven to be robust. It underlines that such a structure can be more resilient than purely point-to-point operations.”
Q: How is the Gemini network performing? (Statement by our CEO, Rolf Habben Jansen)
A: “We had a dip because of the bad weather at the beginning of the year, but still remained well above others. Over the last couple of months, we have been back above the 90% threshold, which I think is really good in today’s world.”
Q: How do you assess the current balance between supply and demand? (Statement by our CEO, Rolf Habben Jansen)
A: “Despite a large order book, we do not see a big imbalance between supply and demand today. It is actually fairly tight, which explains why short-term rates are up so much.”
Q: How is strong growth on dominant trades affecting equipment and capacity needs? (Statement by our CEO, Rolf Habben Jansen)
A: “The imbalance is getting worse. That means the cost of empty boxes is going up. With overall growth of something like 15% over the three-year period, we still need 25% more capacity because that is driven by the dominant legs. It also makes the business relatively more asset-intensive because we need to grow the fleet faster than the overall flow of goods.”
Q: What is the outlook for the Transpacific trade? (Statement by our CEO, Rolf Habben Jansen)
A: “An outlook on shipping is always very difficult. Right now, we still see strong demand into the US, so at the moment it looks like a pretty normal peak season. We still see strong volume today, and I think it is going to be quite normal and then tail off a little towards Golden Week.”
Q: Has container shipping changed structurally? (Statement by our CEO, Rolf Habben Jansen)
A: “To say that something has changed structurally in container shipping is probably a stretch. We know that this business can be very volatile and that swings from profit to loss, and vice versa, can be very quick. I personally do not think that the seasonality we have seen this year is very unusual.”
Q: Why is Terminal & Infrastructure becoming increasingly important to Hapag-Lloyd’s strategy?
A: "We look for terminal investments in locations that are important for the shipping company and where an investment also makes economic sense. We aim to find opportunities where we believe we can achieve a reasonable return and that are also good for the shipping business. Terminal valuations have risen sharply in recent years, and capacity is currently scarce, particularly in Asia."
Q: How will the new investment in Rotterdam strengthen Hapag-Lloyd’s operations?
A: "Rotterdam is an importantport in Europe where we handle several million containers each year. It is therefore important for us to have guaranteed access to capacity there. We are already working with Maersk in Gemini, and this is a high-performing terminal that is being expanded. From a forward-looking perspective, the investment is alogical decision."
Q: What role will Damietta play in the Gemini network?
A: "The new Damietta Alliance Container Terminal, in which Hapag-Lloyd holds a 39% stake, has started commercial operations. With a planned annual capacity of 3.3 million TEU, 1,670 metres of quay and a water depth of 18 metres, Damietta will serve as an important hub for the Gemini network and support industry-leading schedule reliability."
Q: What is planned for the Eurogate terminal in Hamburg?
A: "Hanseatic Global Terminals plans to acquire a 20% stake in Eurogate Container Terminal Hamburg, which currently has an annual capacity of 2.5 million TEU. The planned western extension and further automation are expected to increase capacity and improve cargo-handling efficiency at one of Hapag-Lloyd’s most important port locations."
Q: How will the new terminal in Aracruz support Hapag-Lloyd’s growth in Brazil?
A: "The acquisition of a 50% stake in the greenfield terminal project in Aracruz will add approximately 1.2 million TEU of future annual capacity to the portfolio. Designed to accommodate the latest generation of large vessels, the terminal will strengthen regional connectivity and provide an efficient new gateway to global markets. Operations are expected to begin in mid-2028."
Q: What do these investments mean for customers and global trade?
A: "These investmens mark important steps in strengthening our global terminal portfolio. Together with our partners, we aim to support the continued development of efficient, future-ready terminal infrastructure that benefits our customers, ports and global trade."
Q: How are the Panama Canal capacity restrictions affecting Hapag-Lloyd’s services and customers?
A: The Panama Canal Authority has introduced precautionary capacity restrictions due to below-average rainfall and watershed inflows. We are seeing increasing pressure on transits because of limited capacity and strong demand. Hapag-Lloyd is working continuously to secure transit capacity and minimize potential impacts on services and customers. We continue to monitor the situation and will share updates with our customers as conditions evolve.