11 Nov 2026by Martyn Wingrove
A Spanish shipping group is preparing to purchase a multipurpose terminal in Europe’s largest port to enhance its shortsea and intermodal operations in northern Europe
Boluda Shipping has signed an agreement to acquire the Matrans maritime terminal in Rotterdam to bolster its growing position in the northern Europe shortsea market.
The terminal with an area of 360,000 m2 is in Eemhaven, in one of Europe’s main shortsea shipping hubs, and has 1,100 m of quayside with a water depth of 12.7 m, and a ro-ro berth with a water depth of 9 m.
The acquisition complements the agreement Boluda signed at the end of October to acquire shipping rival Samskip as part of the group’s expansion strategy in the region.
Both transactions will help Boluda develop a broader, more efficient and better-connected logistics network and they remain subject to the relevant regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
Matrans terminal has 70,000 m2 of covered warehousing and 600 m of railway track to support multimodal operations and cargo storage.
It can handle growing volumes of containers, forest products and metals, general cargo, project cargo and ro-ro traffic in response to evolving market demands.
Boluda’s terminal network will comprise 22 maritime terminals and five rail terminals once this acquisition and that of Samskip is completed.
The Spanish group is also the world’s largest owner of harbour tugboats with operations worldwide, including in Rotterdam and Antwerp, with a growing presence in northern Europe.
