HGK and Port of Rotterdam Enter Strategic Collaboration

Two leading logistics players in the waterway system, the Port of Rotterdam and the HGK Group, are planning a strategic collaboration to develop climate-friendly supply chains. The companies signed an agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) on November 24, 2025.

(Köln/Rotterdam) The partners see themselves as having a special responsibility to develop the Rhine corridor as a sustainable transport route for the decarbonization of industry. With their strong position in European inland shipping, their participation in the freight railway RheinCargo, and a dense network of Rhine ports, the HGK Group is one of the key transport and logistics partners for energy- and resource-intensive industries.

On the occasion of the signing, Steffen Bauer, CEO of the HGK Group, stated: “With our cooperation, we aim to establish a robust supply chain concept for the scaling of hydrogen and Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) – from efficient multimodal transport solutions to central transshipment and supply structures. Strengthening the Rhine corridor plays a key role in this, especially for the strong chemical cluster in the Cologne region.”

The Port of Rotterdam is already one of the most important import hubs for Europe’s energy supply and is consistently advancing its transformation into a future-proof energy hub as part of the energy transition. On the occasion of the signing of the agreement, Matthijs van Doorn, Vice President Commercial, said: “The collaboration with the HGK Group strengthens our commitment to position Rotterdam not only as Europe’s energy center but also as a driving force behind the decarbonization of industry and logistical supply chains. Only through joint investments in infrastructure for green fuels and CO₂ storage can we create a future-proof Rhine corridor that is essential for the energy transition in Europe.”

Joint Cooperation Platform

The agreement creates a joint cooperation platform that meets at least quarterly to coordinate projects and initiate new initiatives. The focus is particularly on expanding infrastructure for the transport of green ammonia, methanol, liquid hydrogen, and other renewable energy carriers, as well as supporting cross-border CCUS activities – especially in the industrially strong North Rhine-Westphalia.

The partnership complements existing initiatives along the Rhine corridor and sends a strong signal for the sustainable transformation of the European industrial and logistics landscape.

Photo: © HGK / Caption: Steffen Bauer (r.), CEO of the HGK Group, and Matthijs van Doorn, Vice President Commercial Port of Rotterdam, signed the contract