In order to complete the acquisition of a stake in the Hamburg port logistics company HHLA by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Ukraine’s consent is needed, since HHLA operates a container terminal in Odessa. The head of MSC noted that a decision from the Ukrainian authorities is expected within a few weeks.
In the summer, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) began examining the issue of competition and the impact of this agreement on the market. The committee is examining two concentrations, including the acquisition of control over HHLA and Port of Hamburg Beteiligungsgesellschaft SE by subsidiaries of MSC and HGV.
The container terminal “KTO” in Odessa, owned by HHLA, was the largest in Ukraine before the war with a market share of 35-40%. The AMCU is concerned about the possibility that a large terminal will end up under the control of a company that simultaneously owns a large fleet and operates container lines.