Ro / Ro Shipping
Special Report
Höegh Autoliners said it has diversified its network, loading vehicles and other cargo in 13 main areas and discharging cargo in 17 key markets last year.
While Japan, China and South Korea accounted for 35 % of its loaded cargo volumes last year, followed by Europe with 26 %, ports in the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, the Gulf region and Oceania were the main discharge areas. Höegh said its agile network allowed rapid adjustments to shifting volume and market conditions.
Changing with the market
While not addressing the trade imbalance directly, carriers said they have adapted to the changing market conditions, especially in Europe.
Japan’ s NYK Line said it was awarded a 27-year concession by the Spanish port of Barcelona on May 7 to develop a finished vehicle logistics terminal with a capacity to handle 180,000 vehicles a year starting from 2027.
“ NYK aims to position the port of Barcelona as an international hub for finished-vehicle logistics, catering for current and future demands in the western Mediterranean and North African regions,” the carrier said in a statement announcing the deal.
The new facility will join at least four similar finishedvehicle terminals NYK operates at Zeebrugge and Antwerp in Belgium, Port Said, Egypt; and Yarimca, Turkey.
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Cosco Shipping Car Carriers is also expanding in Europe, signing several agreements to develop import facilities as Chinese vehicle manufacturers move to transport vehicles on China-controlled tonnage.
The carrier signed a deal with Germany’ s BLG Logistics to develop BLG AutoTerminal Bremerhaven as the main port of entry for Cosco’ s vehicle shipments to Germany and a central hub for imports to Scandinavia, the Baltic states and central and eastern Europe.
Cosco also teamed up with Piraeus, Greece-based roll-on / roll-off( ro / ro) ship operator Neptune Lines to cooperate on vehicle shipments on Mediterranean, Black Sea and North Africa routes.
That comes as Chinese vehicle manufacturers are deploying larger vessels in competition with traditional operators such as Wilhelmsen and Höegh.
In May, Anji Logistics, part of Shanghai-based vehicle maker SAIC Motors, deployed the world’ s biggest car carrier, the 9,500-car equivalent unit( CEU) Anji Ansheng, on its maiden voyage to Europe, while electric vehicle maker BYD launched the 9,200-CEU BYD Shenzhen on its maiden voyage to Brazil.
Geely Jisu Logistics, part of Geely Auto, which owns Volvo, also deployed its first car carrier in May, when the 7,000-CEU Jisu Fortune sailed to Europe.
email: keithwallis @ hotmail. com
July 7, 2025 | Journal of Commerce 35