Hapag-Lloyd expands African network with new offices

Hapag-Lloyd is expanding its presence across Africa by opening new offices in Namibia, Rwanda and Burundi, strengthening its local customer support and regional network

Effective 1 October 2026, the company will establish its own office in Namibia and introduce a new setup in Kigali, Rwanda, serving customers in both Rwanda and Burundi. The developments strengthen Hapag-Lloyd’s operations across Southern and East Africa, enabling the company to combine local market knowledge and customer proximity with the wider reach of its African and global network.

Africa is becoming increasingly significant in global trade as economies expand, trade flows develop and connections with international markets strengthen. The evolution of supply chains across the continent, alongside rising demand for dependable international coSW5nnectivity, is creating new opportunities for businesses and communities. Hapag-Lloyd’s latest investments reflect its strategy of moving closer to customers while continuing to develop local expertise, capabilities and network connections.

The company’s expanded footprint includes a new office in Walvis Bay, which will establish Hapag-Lloyd’s own local presence in Namibia. In East Africa, the new Kigali setup will serve customers in Rwanda and Burundi, extending the company’s reach into two landlocked markets while connecting them to its regional and international network.

The Kigali operation will build on Hapag-Lloyd’s existing connectivity in East Africa. The company currently operates two weekly services through Dar es Salaam, supporting imports and exports from Rwanda and Burundi with direct connections to India and the Far East. The new setup in Kigali will complement these services by providing customers in both countries with closer access to Hapag-Lloyd’s support and local market expertise.

“Strengthening our presence in Namibia, Rwanda and Burundi is an important milestone in the continued development of Hapag-Lloyd in Africa,” said Jesper Kanstrup, managing director Sub-Region Africa at Hapag-Lloyd.

“Africa is a highly diverse continent, and serving our customers successfully requires a strong understanding of the individual markets in which they operate. By strengthening our presence, we combine local industry knowledge and customer proximity with the reach of Hapag-Lloyd’s global network. Each market offers different opportunities, and this expansion reflects our long-term commitment to our customers and to Africa.”

The expansion forms part of Hapag-Lloyd’s wider Strategy 2030 ambitions, with Africa continuing to feature in the company’s growth plans. By investing in local teams and market expertise and maintaining close relationships with customers, authorities and partners, Hapag-Lloyd aims to develop an organisation capable of responding to the specific requirements of individual African markets while connecting them to its global liner network.

The new operations in Namibia, Rwanda and Burundi represent another stage in Hapag-Lloyd’s African expansion and underline its long-term commitment to developing alongside customers across the continent.