Hapag-Lloyd’s Hanseatic Global Terminals Expands in Brazil With New Strategic Container Hub
The German shipping group strengthens its presence in Latin America through a joint venture in Brazil that will develop a major container terminal designed to boost regional connectivity and support growing trade flows.
Hanseatic Global Terminals (HGT), the terminal operations arm of German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd, has completed the acquisition of a 50% stake in a new container terminal project in Brazil, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to Latin America and one of the region’s most important logistics markets.
The transaction creates a joint venture between HGT and Brazil’s Imetame Group to develop and operate a large-scale container terminal in Aracruz, located in the state of Espírito Santo. The project is expected to become a key logistics hub on Brazil’s eastern coast and strengthen maritime connections between South America and global markets.
Construction is already underway, with commercial operations scheduled to begin in mid-2028. Once completed, the facility will have an annual handling capacity of approximately 1.2 million TEUs, positioning it among the most significant new port infrastructure projects currently under development in Latin America.
The terminal is designed to function both as a gateway for Brazilian exports and imports and as a transshipment center connecting regional shipping routes with major international trade corridors. The project includes a 750-meter quay, a 17-meter draft capable of accommodating larger vessels and advanced container handling infrastructure.
For Hapag-Lloyd, the investment reflects the growing strategic importance of Latin America within global shipping and logistics networks. The company sees the region as a key growth market as trade volumes increase and supply chains continue to diversify.
The development also aligns with Hanseatic Global Terminals’ broader expansion strategy, which aims to grow its global portfolio to more than 30 terminal operations by 2030. The company currently manages port and logistics assets across Europe, Latin America, North America and Asia.
Brazil remains one of the most attractive infrastructure markets in the region due to its scale, export capacity and increasing demand for modern logistics solutions. Investments in ports are becoming increasingly important as governments and private operators seek to improve competitiveness and support international trade.
For the Imetame Group, the partnership represents an opportunity to accelerate the development of a multimodal logistics platform in Espírito Santo, a state that continues attracting investment in infrastructure, energy and industrial projects.
Industry analysts view the project as another sign of growing European investment in Latin American logistics infrastructure, particularly in sectors linked to trade facilitation, port modernization and supply chain resilience.
The new Aracruz terminal underscores Brazil’s growing importance in global maritime trade and highlights how European logistics companies are expanding their footprint in Latin America to capture future trade growth.
