HHLA accesses Adriatic market by Trieste terminal

Port operator Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has entered the Adriatic market. They have buying a majority stake (50.01%) of the multi-function terminal “Piattaforma Logistica Trieste” (PLT) in the Italian port of Trieste.

The two parties signed the agreement on 28 September. The transaction is subject to various conditions precedent and is expected to close in January 2021. Additionally, the investment will be allocated contractually and organizationally to HHLA International GmbH.

This is Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG’s third move outside of Hamburg.  This is happened after its participation in the ports of Odessa, Ukraine and Tallinn, Estonia.

HHLA’s opportunity

Trieste’s terminal acquisition is an opportunity for HHLA to play a part in the new and changing cargo flows. According to Angela Titzrath, chairwoman of HHLA’s executive board. He described the investment as a strategic expansion to the existing port.  Its also help us to the expansion of the intermodal network.

The terminal facilities are within the Free Port of Trieste and take up a total area of 280,000m². The northern part of the facilities, handle mainly general cargo and logistics services. While in the new area to the south, operations will start in the first quarter of 2021. It is designed to handle container and ro-ro traffic.

The capacity of the PLT terminal will comprise a total of approximately 300,000TEU (standard containers), 90,000 ro-ro units and 700,000 tonnes of general cargo.

HHLA could expand the terminal through additional adjacent areas. According to an announcement. “Our development strategy in the direction of Central and Eastern Europe fits in with HHLA’s orientation,”.  Francesco Parisi, chairman of PLT’s executive board has been commented.

HHLA said the position of the Port of Trieste on the Adriatic also allows for development opportunities in hinterland transport,  The PLT terminal has its own rail connection. The HHLA rail subsidiary Metrans already connects the Italian port with its European intermodal network.