After Hamburg, now Bremerhaven: the state-owned Chinese Cosco Group is intensifying its involvement on the Weser through a strategic partnership with the BLG Group. This involves car handling and the High & Heavy segment.
BLG Logistics and Cosco Shipping Car Carriers, the shipping company responsible for car transportation, have agreed a strategic partnership and signed a corresponding agreement, as announced today.
With this agreement, the companies intend to combine their expertise in automotive logistics and the handling of high & heavy goods from China to Europe.
Cosco is thus intensifying its involvement in German ports. The Chinese recently invested in the Tollerort Container Terminal (CTT) in Hamburg following lengthy political debates.
Accordingly, BLG AutoTerminal Bremerhaven (ATB) is to be developed into a central port of entry for the German market for Cosco, as well as a central hub for the markets in Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe and the markets in the Baltic states.
“Bremerhaven is of great importance to Chinese manufacturers as a port of entry to the European market. In particular, efficient logistical access to the German market, as one of the leading sales markets for vehicle manufacturers, is key,” the Chinese company said in the statement.
Cosco is aiming for a liner service that includes Bremerhaven with at least two calls per month. BLG will make the BLG network available to Cosco and the Chinese manufacturers on land. This enables the importers to have end-to-end logistics solutions from a single source, from the factories in China to trade in Europe.
“For an open transshipment port like Bremerhaven, it is important to adapt to market developments. This means that we have to take into account the changing requirements of our traditional customers and at the same time create efficient logistics solutions for new importers. We are therefore very pleased that BLG’s network advantage through the combination of seaport terminal, inland terminals, value-added technical services and road and rail transport has been recognized by Cosco in the interests of Chinese manufacturers. The signed agreement shows that our partner appreciates BLG’s depth of service and cross-network service offering and wants to create the corresponding benefits for our joint customers,” says Axel Bantel, Managing Director Sales at BLG Automobile Logistics.
