Boluda Makes Its Debut at the Port of Rotterdam with the Acquisition of the Matrans Terminal

Boluda Shipping, the maritime transport and logistics division of Boluda Corporación Marítima, signed an agreement on November 3 to acquire the Matrans maritime terminal, located in Eemhaven (Rotterdam). With this transaction, the group chaired by Vicente Boluda makes its debut as a port operator in Europe’s busiest port complex in terms of traffic. It is the third acquisition the group has announced in northern Europe in just two weeks, following those of Samskip (October 28) and Muller Dordrecht (November 4).

The company explains that the facility is one of the main hubs for short-sea shipping in Europe. The operation strengthens the group’s port capabilities in the region and expands its range of services for shipping companies, logistics operators, and industrial firms.

A multipurpose terminal

The agreement complements the acquisition of Samskip, an Icelandic-founded, Rotterdam-based shipping company specializing in short-sea shipping. According to elEconomista, Samskip had owned 50% of the terminal since 2024, alongside Matrans, a Dutch group that is one of the port’s mooring and stevedoring operators.

Both transactions are part of Boluda Shipping’s expansion strategy into Northern Europe and the development of a “broader, more efficient, and better-connected” logistics network, according to the company. The group notes that the acquisitions of Matrans and Samskip “remain subject to the relevant approvals and closing conditions.”

Matrans has a total area of 360,000 m², of which 70,000 m² consists of covered warehouses. It has 1,100 meters of dock with a draft of 12.65 meters, a ro-ro berth with a draft of 9 meters, and 600 meters of railroad track.

Its multipurpose nature allows it to handle containers, forest products, metals, general cargo, project cargo, and ro-ro traffic. In addition, it offers its own customs clearance, tax representation, road transport, and freight forwarding services to provide solutions tailored to different clients and sectors.

Following the acquisition, the terminal is entering a new phase of growth and development focused on increasing its operational efficiency, boosting cargo volumes, and continuing to improve customer service. These measures will strengthen its position as a leading multipurpose terminal in the Port of Rotterdam and enable it to better respond to new market demands.

An international terminal platform

The addition of Matrans strengthens Boluda Shipping’s terminal network, which will total 21 maritime terminals and 5 rail terminals once the acquisition of Samskip is also completed. According to the company, this network will expand the group’s international coverage and service capacity and strengthen connections between its markets.

Boluda explains that the terminals connect maritime and land transportation and that coordinating them reduces wait times and improves the efficiency and reliability of logistics chains. They also enable intermodal transport, which combines ship and rail for long-distance travel and road for final distribution—a model that, according to the group, reduces CO₂ emissions compared to transport by road alone.

From the Iberian Peninsula to Northern Europe

With these transactions, Boluda Shipping is taking a major step forward in its expansion into Northern Europe, as its operations have traditionally focused on routes between the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands, and West Africa. Following the acquisition of Samskip, according to elEconomista, the company has nearly doubled its fleet to 33 vessels, and the acquired company reached 806 million euros in 2025.

The group was already active in the region through Boluda Shipping, which provides maritime transport and logistics services, and Boluda Towage, which provides port towing services. The opening of its new offices in Rotterdam last June underscored the region’s importance to its international expansion. On November 4, Boluda Towage announced the acquisition of the Dutch company Muller Dordrecht, thereby expanding its offshore business.

Marsa Maroc, Waiting for the Government

Boluda Shipping also includes Boluda Maritime Terminals (BMT), a subsidiary through which the agreement with the Moroccan company Marsa Maroc is structured; Marsa Maroc agreed to acquire 45% of the equity for 80 million euros by the end of 2025. According to Economía Digital, this alliance is limited to BMT and does not extend to Boluda Shipping as a whole. The transaction is still pending approval by the Spanish government.