Hapag-Lloyd opens offices in Namibia, Rwanda, Burundi

AFRICA – Hapag-Lloyd will open new offices in Namibia, Rwanda and Burundi from 1 October 2026, expanding its local presence in Southern and East Africa, according to a company statement.

In Namibia, a new Hapag-Lloyd office in Walvis Bay will establish the company’s local presence in the market.

Meanwhile, in East Africa, a new facility in Kigali will serve customers in Rwanda and Burundi, strengthening Hapag-Lloyd’s reach into two landlocked markets and connecting them to its regional and global network.

Connecting landlocked markets

For Rwanda and Burundi, the new presence builds on Hapag-Lloyd’s existing connectivity in East Africa. Through Dar es Salaam, Hapag-Lloyd offers two weekly services supporting imports and exports, with direct connections to India and the Far East.

The Kigali setup complements this network by bringing customer support and market expertise closer to customers in both markets.

Leadership comments

“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.”

Strategy 2030

Africa remains an important part of Hapag-Lloyd’s growth journey under its Strategy 2030 objectives. The company aims to build an organization that meets the distinct needs of African markets and connects them to its global liner network.

By investing in local teams and market expertise and by working closely with customers, authorities, and partners, Hapag-Lloyd aims to grow alongside its customers across the continent.

African expansion context

The expansion follows Hapag-Lloyd’s recent partnerships and investments throughout the continent.

For instance, in September 2026, the carrier expanded its cooperation with DP World to secure long-term terminal capacity in Dakar, Luanda and Dar es Salaam, and to support port infrastructure development in Banana and Maputo.

Finally, Hapag-Lloyd expects its transport volumes in Africa to exceed 1 million TEU in 2026, with its new offices in Walvis Bay and Kigali strengthening its African network and connecting landlocked markets to global trade.

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