HHLA buys majority stake in Ukrainian intermodal terminal

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has decided to invest in another terminal in Ukraine.

The company is acquiring 60% of the shares in the Eurobridge Intermodal Terminal in Batiovo in western Ukraine.

HHLA sees Ukraine as a hub for continental container transport and is simultaneously strengthening its position in European rail freight transport.

The terminal will be operated under the name HHLA Eurobridge Batiovo as a joint venture between HHLA International and the Ukrainian investment company Fortior Capital.

The German firm will acquire the majority stake and will continue to develop the terminal together with its rail subsidiary Metrans.

The terminal is located near the EU border at an intersection of several international railway corridors, making it an important hub for freight traffic between Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovakia.

Thanks to its access to standard and broad-gauge tracks, the terminal is suited as an interface between the European and Ukrainian logistics networks.

In the first stage of expansion, the terminal will be able to handle around 100,000 teu annually and is designed for the transhipment of containers, grain, and other general cargo. According to HHLA, the capacity can be expanded if demand requires.

With its stake in the Eurobridge Terminal, HHLA is strengthening its presence in Ukraine, which already includes the operation of the HHLA Container Terminal in Odessa and the local rail operator UIC Ukraine Intermodal Company.

The new partnership improves access to ports and ensures connections along central transport corridors – from the North Sea and Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.

“Container operations are scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2025. At the same time, we are expanding our service portfolio to offer customers comprehensive, efficient and sustainable logistics solutions,” said Philip Sweens, managing director of HHLA International.

This comes less than a month after the world’s largest liner, MSC, bought 50% of the Ukrainian intermodal logistics operator N’UNIT and a 25% stake in the cross-border terminal Mostyska through its growing inland cargo business Medlog.

MSC is also the owner of a 49.9% stake in HHLA, with the remaining 50.1% being owned by the city of Hamburg. The liner completed the stake acquisition in late November last year.