Ten per cent European container handling in Chinese hands

Chinese groups and state-owned companies, Cosco, China Merchant and Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) in the lead, are today shareholders in container terminals in some 15 European ports. They are usually minority stakes, such as the 20% Cosco owns in Antwerp Gateway or that group’s 35% stake in Rotterdam’s Euromax (pictured). Piraeus and Valencia, where that group does take the helm, have so far been rather exceptions. But with the acquisition of APMT Zeebrugge, Cosco Shipping Port has now acquired its own spot in northwest Europe.