Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced separate deals to expand their container terminal portfolios in Brazil and China, reports London's S&P Global.

In Brazil, Hanseatic Global Terminals, Hapag-Lloyd's ports division, signed a joint venture with the Imetame Group to take a 50 per cent stake in Imetame Logistica Porto. The partners will build and operate the Hanseatic Global Terminals Aracruz facility in Espirito Santo state with a capacity of 1.2 million TEU.

Local sources estimated the project cost at US$486 million, though the companies did not confirm. The terminal, with 2,461 feet of quay and 56 feet depth, is due to open in mid-2028 and will handle breakbulk as well as containerised cargo.

Hanseatic Global Terminals CEO Dheeraj Bhatia said the venture would strengthen Hapag-Lloyd's portfolio and address capacity constraints in Latin America. Existing ports such as Santos and Navegantes often face disruption from bad weather, congestion and construction work.

The Aracruz investment is part of a Hapag-Lloyd plan to expand its network to more than 30 terminals by 2030, according to chief executive Rolf Habben Jansen.

Meanwhile, ONE said it had agreed to take a minority stake in Dalian Container Terminal in northern China. The Singapore-headquartered carrier did not disclose the size of the interest but said the deal added to its holdings in Los Angeles, Oakland, Rotterdam and Singapore.

ONE global product and network chief Hiroki Tsujii said the acquisition would ensure access at key regional ports and support DCT's infrastructure and green initiatives. DCT has 14 berths, 14,400 feet of quay and annual capacity of 6.6 million TEU.