The Hamburg port logistics company HHLA continues to expect a positive reaction to the entry of the Chinese terminal operator Cosco at the HHLA terminal in Tollerort (CTT). “HHLA is in intensive contact with the responsible authorities in Berlin,” said HHLA spokesman Hans-Jörg Heims on Friday when asked.

Last September, HHLA and Cosco Shipping Ports Limited (CSPL) agreed on a 35 percent stake for the Chinese in Tollerort. “We continue to assume that the conditions for approval by HHLA and CSPL have been met and that approval under foreign trade law can therefore be achieved.” HHLA was reacting to a report by “Manager Magazin”, according to which Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck to veto the acquisition.

A spokesman for the ministry in Berlin only said about the report: “Investment review procedures are confidential, so we cannot comment on them.” The HHLA spokesman also did not want to say anything about the current state of affairs: “HHLA has not yet received any official decision from the Federal Government. We are still in an ongoing process that we do not comment on.”

CTT is one of three container terminals operated by HHLA in Europe’s third largest seaport. In return, Cosco wants to concentrate its cargo flows in the Hanseatic city, the container terminal CTT will become a preferred transhipment point in Europe. According to earlier information, the CTT handles, among other things, two Far East services, a Mediterranean service and a Baltic Sea feeder service from Cosco. CTT has four berths and 14 container gantries.