Rotterdam World Gateway secures €500 million financing for expansion

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) has secured a new financing package to support the final phase of its container terminal expansion at Maasvlakte 2 in the Port of Rotterdam, a project involving an investment of €500 million.

The financing consists of two parts: senior debt and subordinated debt. Société Générale acted as financial advisor and sole private placement agent for the transaction. Clifford Chance, which advised RWG on the transaction, said it is the terminal operator's largest financing to date, comprising a U.S. senior private placement and a private credit subordinated tranche.

The funds will support RWG's ongoing expansion works, including the construction of its fourth and final deep-water berth. The berth will be designed to handle the world's largest container ships.

RWG currently has an annual throughput capacity of approximately 2.6 million TEU. Upon completion of the expansion, the terminal is expected to handle up to 5 million TEU, significantly enhancing its position in the Port of Rotterdam and across the Northern European container network.

RWG's €500 million investment also includes five new ship-to-shore cranes, 11 stacking modules equipped with 22 automated yard cranes, and 24 automated guided vehicles (AGVs). The terminal is also studying the feasibility of introducing the BoxBay system, which can store approximately 30,000 TEU of empty containers. Subsequent investments will be used to enhance charging capacity for electric equipment and expand the gate, maintenance facilities, office space, and out-of-gauge cargo storage areas.

RWG expects the additional capacity from the final expansion phase to enter commercial operation by 2030. Société Générale said the expansion is intended to support future growth while helping to alleviate persistent congestion pressure at the Port of Rotterdam.

Enrico Douwens, Chief Financial Officer of RWG, said the capacity expansion at the Maasvlakte 2 container terminal is accelerating. He added that the financing structure provided by Société Générale met the requirements of all parties to the transaction.

Previously, in August, RWG announced it would accelerate the final phase of the Maasvlakte 2 expansion. The project will proceed in parallel with the expansion of the terminal's third berth, which is expected to enter commercial operation in 2027. The final phase will fully utilize all the quay length allocated to RWG by the Port of Rotterdam Authority.

RWG's shareholders include DP World, CMA CGM (through its Terminal Link shareholding), HMM, and Ocean Network Express (ONE).