National Security Concerns Lead to Blocked Freight Forwarder Acquisition

Germany has blocked a proposed acquisition of an 80% stake in a Hamburg-based freight forwarding business, citing concerns about national security and the resilience of critical supply chains. The transaction would have transferred majority ownership of the logistics company to a foreign state-owned shipping group. The German federal cabinet approved the prohibition following a separate foreign investment review, despite the transaction having previously received competition clearance. The freight forwarder specialises in container hinterland transport, connecting seaports with inland destinations through rail, road and inland waterways. Its operations support cargo movements between Hamburg and Bremerhaven and industrial centres in eastern Germany and neighbouring markets. According to the report, the business handles between 35% and 90% of container volumes at certain inland terminals in Berlin, Schkopau and Elsterwerda. It also performs logistics functions connected with Germany’s armed forces. Authorities expressed concern that foreign control over strategically important transport infrastructure could increase dependency and create vulnerabilities during a political crisis. The government stated that the acquisition could threaten supply chain resilience in both Germany and the wider European Union. The decision follows earlier scrutiny of foreign investment in German port infrastructure and comes as the country prepares tighter investment-screening legislation covering strategic assets and technology. The blocked transaction illustrates how national security considerations can override an acquisition that has passed conventional competition assessments. Germany has indicated that foreign investment remains possible but will continue to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis where public security and critical infrastructure are concerned. SOUTH AFRICA