CTH currently handles around 4 million TEU annually and is considered one of Germany’s most efficient container terminals. The terminal’s planned Western Expansion project, which will add 38 hectares of yard space and 1,050 metres of new quay wall, is projected to raise capacity to approximately 6 million TEU and accommodate next-generation container vessels.
CMA CGM already serves CTH through its flagship FAL service, linking Asia and Northern Europe with LNG-powered megamax vessels capable of carrying 23,000 TEU. The new investment aligns with CMA CGM’s strategy to grow its global terminal portfolio and strengthen its network across major European ports. The group currently holds stakes in 64 terminals worldwide. According to CMA CGM, the move will improve resilience, intermodal connectivity, and low-carbon logistics in the region.
Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and CEO of CMA CGM Group, said: “The partnership will help enhance the terminal’s capacity, strengthen its rail connections, and support its move towards more sustainable operations.” The deal will also contribute to Eurogate’s long-term plans to modernise Hamburg’s port infrastructure. CTH connects directly to Eurokombi, Germany’s largest intermodal rail hub, offering fast inland transport links to Central and Eastern Europe.
This investment strengthens CMA CGM’s established presence in Germany, where the company opened offices in Hamburg and Bremen in 1991. Today, Germany is part of CMA CGM’s regional cluster covering five countries, with 23 weekly vessel calls across Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven.
The Hamburg move comes amid increased foreign investment in the city’s terminals. In 2023, COSCO Shipping Ports acquired a 24.99% stake in Container Terminal Tollerort, while MSC, the world’s largest liner, obtained a 49.9% holding in HHLA, Hamburg’s main terminal operator. These developments signal a reshaping of ownership patterns in Northern Europe’s leading port.
CMA CGM said the Hamburg investment supports its goal of expanding global terminal operations and modernising European port infrastructure, while enhancing intermodal and sustainable logistics solutions. With the combination of CTH’s existing efficiency and planned expansions, CMA CGM expects the partnership to bolster capacity, improve operational flexibility, and strengthen connections across the European supply chain.
The deal underscores CMA CGM’s commitment to Europe, integrating terminal operations, shipping services, and intermodal links, and reflects the broader trend of international liner investments shaping the future of Northern Europe’s maritime logistics landscape.
