Increasing influence How China is entering Europe’s ports

Status: 10.06.2021 12:33 p.m.

Piraeus, Rotterdam, Antwerp and soon possibly also Hamburg – China has its own terminals in 14 European ports or holds shares in port operators. Critics warn of the consequences of the urge to expand. From Lothar Gries, tagesschau.de The listed Hamburg port operator HHLA is currently negotiating with the Chinese state shipping company Cosco about a possible participation in one of its container terminals – with the telling name of Tollerort. HHLA recently announced that a legally binding agreement has not yet been reached. However, the publication of such a release indicates that the talks are on the home stretch. Trade with China is by far the most important business for the third largest European seaport. Ships of the Chinese shipping company Cosco have been calling at Hamburg for almost 40 years. Two years ago, China’s Vice President Wang Qishan also visited the Tollerort terminal. With its four berths on a quay wall a good kilometer long, 14 container cranes and a five-track rail connection, Tollerort is one of a total of four container terminals in the Port of Hamburg and the second largest at HHLA.

Important loophole

According to experts, by entering Hamburg, China would close the largest gap in its maritime Silk Road. Even more: through a partnership with HHLA, Cosco could also get privileged access to the Italian Adriatic port of Trieste. The Hamburg port operator had taken over the majority in a new terminal there last year – with the express approval of the government in Rome, which wanted to block the way for the Chinese who were also interested. Because a majority stake by Cosco in the largest container terminal in Trieste would have been tantamount to a sell-out from the perspective of the Italians. Now the Chinese could still gain access to Trieste via Hamburg. That would be a decisive move in Beijing’s expansion strategy, since Trieste is the northernmost port in the Mediterranean and therefore particularly important for Central and Eastern Europe. HHLA is also involved in terminals in the Ukraine and Estonia.

“Loss of Sovereignty”

Cosco and its sister company China Merchant already have their own terminals in a total of 14 European ports – or at least shares in the port operators. All the major seaports on the continent are included, from Rotterdam and Antwerp to Le Havre, Bilbao, Genoa, Valencia and Marseille. According to calculations by US experts, more than two thirds of the 50 largest container terminals in the world are already controlled by the Chinese or at least supported by holdings. “Europe has thus lost some of its sovereignty,” complained the former French Prime Minister and China expert, Jean-Pierre Raffarin. The sell-off began in 2016 when Greece, which was practically bankrupt at the time, was forced by the troika made up of the monetary fund, the EU and the ECB to privatize the port of Piraeus. The Chinese were happy to take it and were given complete control of the strategically located port for a bargain price of 280 million euros. Today Piraeus is number four in Europe, behind Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg. The port is the end point of the maritime Silk Road, from China across the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea. Beijing also controls its entrance for onward travel through the Suez Canal, with a naval base in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa.

Silk Road project – anything but a marketing gimmick

The example of Greece shows the political effects of China’s increasing influence in some countries, says Günther Oettinger, the former EU Commissioner and Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg. “Before the European Union imposed symbolic sanctions on China in March, Greece liked the role of delaying and watering down resolutions against China. A rogue who thinks evil”, said the CDU politician in a guest article for the “Tagesspiegel” “. China’s expansion can no longer be stopped. “We cannot blame the Chinese for being smart. We can only blame ourselves for being so stupid,” said French President Emmanuel Macron, referring to China’s strategy, which is an increasingly large one in Europe’s economy Role to play. In fact, the EU countries watched China’s shopping spree for a long time with takeovers of technology companies such as the German robot manufacturer Kuka. “When China’s leadership launched the ‘New Silk Road’ project in 2013, many in Europe believed it was a marketing gag,” said Günther Oettinger. President Xi Jinping was very serious, as can be seen from the trade network that has now been established. In Europe, China prefers to help those states, such as Greece or Hungary, that are poorer than Western Europeans. These countries are to be tied closely to themselves by investing billions in infrastructure in order to create a “China-friendly Europe”, as a high-ranking EU diplomat of the “world” said.

No concerns from Berlin

The most recent decision by the EU Parliament, which Suspend discussions on the investment agreement reached with China at the end of last year . Among other things, it was supposed to regulate the access of European companies to the Chinese market, but met with growing opposition in the European Union. Critics complained that the agreement did not set any limits to China’s expansionist urge. This is unlikely to prevent the Chinese from entering the Tollerort container port in Hamburg. The negotiations are after NDR- Information well advanced and coordinated with the federal government. There are no concerns from the Chancellery, the Ministry of Economics and Transport, or the Foreign Office.

Container charges increased more than 4 times According to Drewry World, the container freight rate announced on May 27, 2021 for a 40-foot container from Shanghai (China) to Rotterdam (Netherlands) has increased to USD 10,174, up 3.1% from a week earlier and up 485% from a year ago. The global container freight rate index (which includes eight major routes) was up 2%, to $6,257 from a week earlier and 293% higher from a year ago. Freight rates are at their highest levels since 2011. Container freight rates are rising because demand is outstripping supply due to a shortage of 20- and 40-foot containers. In the context of consumer demand and the price of basic raw materials, commodities increased sharply, leading many businesses to increase stockpiling of goods, disruption from the congestion of the Suez Canal at the end of March 2021. Port congestion is causing delays and higher costs for shippers, while ocean carriers enjoy sky-high profits. According to the chairman of a seafood processing company, it is estimated that the freight rate of container ships from Vietnam to Europe has increased more than four times, from 1,700-1,800 USD/container to 7,000-8,000 USD/container compared to before the epidemic occurred. out. Freight rates to the East Coast of the United States have increased more than 1.7 times, from 4,500 USD to 8,000 – 10,000 USD/container. Opportunities are not spread evenly On the listed stock exchange today, the number of enterprises providing shipping services is relatively small. Enterprises such as Hai An Transport and Loading Joint Stock Company (code HAH), PetroVietnam Transportation Joint Stock Corporation (code PVT), Vietnam Shipping Joint Stock Company (code) can be mentioned immediately. VOS)… The shipping market share is still mainly in the hands of foreign enterprises. At PVT, in recent years, the business has continuously pursued a fleet rejuvenation strategy to increase business efficiency, by the end of 2020 owns a fleet of 34 ships. The company operates mainly in the field of transporting crude oil, oil products, transporting LPG…, products related to the parent company is the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN). Therefore, PVT is not able to decide on freight prices, leading to stable gross profit margin and no growth, although oil prices and freight rates have fluctuated in recent years. At VOS, as of December 31, 2020, the company owns a fleet of 12 ships with a total tonnage of 405,112 dwt, including 8 dry and bulk cargo ships; 2 product tankers and 2 container ships. In addition, the enterprise also periodically leases a number of ships to maintain regular fleet operations of 12-14 ships. VOS’s fleet operates regularly in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, West Africa, Australia, South America… However, the disadvantage of VOS is that the fleet is quite old and has not been renewed due to its financial potential. limited, while import-export businesses often require larger shipments and prefer new generation fleets. HAH owns this advantage, when continuously investing in new ships from 2014 up to now. The Company’s fleet includes 8 ships, serving both domestic and international routes. At the shareholders’ meeting in 2021, HAH’s Board of Directors shared that they continue to plan to invest in more fleets to increase the number of domestic flights, and maintain and develop 2 import and export cargo trips to Hong Kong and Singapore. . In the first quarter of this year, HAH recorded revenue of 359 billion dong, profit after tax of 85.5 billion dong, up 28.4% and 174% respectively over the same period last year. Gross profit margin increased sharply from 19.2% to 27%. After the first 3 months of the year, HAH has completed up to 54.1% of the year’s profit plan. The business said that profit growth was positive in the first quarter of 2021 due to the fact that sea transport activities have started with positive signs and increased transportation demand from the last 6 months of 2020. Along with the company’s investment in the HA View vessel in August 2020, the output of Hai An fleet increased by more than 50% compared to the same period last year. The increase in fleet volume leads to an increase in the output of port operations and depots. Besides, the increase in freight rates and the decrease in raw material prices also had a positive impact on profits.

Meryem Slimani, 37, a designer living in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, returned to his childhood with his 68-year-old mother but reversed roles. Now, she is the creator of beautiful clothes for the mother to wear and experience. The creativity of the daughter and an amateur mother model has brought the mother and daughter Meryem Slimani to fame throughout social networks. Meryem Slimani has turned mother Najate Leklye into a fashionista loved by tens of thousands of people. The daughter helps her mother transform with a youthful, dynamic style that attracts more than 55,000 followers on her personal Instagram page. At the same time, creating opportunities for mother and daughter to collaborate with major fashion brands in the world such as Uniqlo, Fila and Daily Paper. Meryem Slimani said: “People can see a part of themselves through my story. Maybe it’s the bond between mother and daughter, maybe it’s the feeling of belonging at home, Or maybe it’s simply a love of fashion.” The image of a fashionable mother-daughter couple tells the story of a migrant family with a Dutch-Moroccan identity. Meryem Slimani shared: “The culture of identity is a big part of me, I don’t even realize or think too much about it myself. That culture has been in my heart, in my soul for a long time. “. The ingenuity in combining the rich details of traditional Moroccan clothing ignited Meryem Slimani’s love of fashion. Since childhood, Meryem Slimani was encouraged by her mother to dress herself, pursue fashion styles to express herself. In 2010, when the Netherlands fell into an economic crisis, at that time job opportunities in the creative industries were not many. Meryem Slimani has decided to switch to blogging about fashion and lifestyle. Her mother is also the person she trusts to take fashion photos for her. Meryem Slimani shared: “There are times when I feel like I don’t want to be in front of the camera anymore. I feel like everything is boring, even Instagram. There are millions of users trying to do the same things. Space. become saturated but lack variety, creativity. I put my mother in front of the camera and that makes me different.” Her mother is the one who cheers Meryem Slimani the most and supports her ideas. But things did not go well when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Everything has to change, from daily life, mother’s health care to fashion sense. The 37-year-old woman chooses to help her mother temporarily break away from the usual feminine styles to move towards comfortable options, no longer wearing trendy high heels but choosing healthy sports shoes, even style hip-hop way. OLD “I feel like I’m in that culture,” says Meryem Slimani. “It’s a space where I feel I’m accepted as I am.” For this dutiful girl, it is important that she can use her work to send the message to many people that age is not what determines how you dress or the style you choose to be. body becomes more confident. Hoang Dung (translation summary)

Admire the giant super yacht moving through a narrow canal in the Netherlands Producing a large yacht is a process, but transporting it is an art. We do not always have the opportunity to admire super yachts in real life, especially with massive super yacht models. Especially when a super yacht weaving through a narrow canal is a very rare thing in the world. Yacht photographer Tom van Oossanen captured very interesting scenes when Project 817, a large yacht built by Dutch shipbuilder Feadship, was transported from the Kaag Island facility to the Sea. North at the port of Rotterdam last week. In the series of images released by Tom van Oossanen, Project 87, one of the biggest super yachts to be launched this year is being transported through the blocks of houses and churches, making the crowd admire. According to Oossanen, about 4 to 6 super yachts are transported along the route each year before being taken for sea trials. However, there are few “big” projects like Project 817, likely to be named Viva when it officially launches. During the two days following Project 817’s journey closely, Oossanen said some of the people present were puzzled by the sight, and asked questions such as “Why did someone drive a yacht? here?” According to Oossanen, each yacht is transported on a similar route, but no yacht is the same. Therefore, he always wants to find new ways to bring new experiences to viewers. “It’s always a route, but I’m always trying to find different perspectives.” The photographer wants to document this journey, as he believes this may be the last time such a large yacht has been transported along the canal. In the early stages of the transport, Viva was moved from the shipyard on the island of Kaag to Lake Braassemermeer, where it would be fitted with cotton underneath to aid yachts floating in shallow water. The two push-and-pull ships are then attached to cardboard in the front and rear of the yacht to aid in the correct direction. By this point, it was ready to be pushed and pulled along the canals, across a small bridge in the village of Woubrugge and the town of Alphen aan den Rijn before reaching the city of Gouda located south of Amsterdam. According to Feadship, a team of 5 experts and a crew on board will be responsible for bringing the yacht to sea. The Feadship confirmed to CNN that the yacht was successfully transported to Rotterdam and is ready for sea trials. Designed by Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture and De Voogt, the hybrid Viva-powered yacht with a pearl white exterior color is one of the biggest super yachts at the moment.

The ‘giant’ struggled to make his way through a Dutch canal Large super yachts weave through narrow canals in the Netherlands to create a very impressive scene, looking like a bulky giant walking among the tiny crowd. But not every day visitors also have the opportunity to admire that spectacle. Photographer Tom van Oossanen was fortunate to be present in time capturing those amazing scenes of a yacht up to 94 meters long. The ship, built by Dutch shipyard Feadship, has transported from the Kaag Island facility to the North Sea in Rotterdam. In a series of stunning images, the ship travels on the water passing by old houses and churches, making the crowd in awe. According to Tom van Oossanen, there are about 4 to 6 super yachts transported along the route each year before the start of the sea trials that normally take place in Amsterdam. “It’s always been a pretty complicated activity and everyone loves to watch,” said Oossanen. The design of the super boat is calculated very closely to perfectly fit for easy transport on water. Oossanen once saw four large super yachts on the same cruise. Designers have made a product whose dimensions cannot add one centimeter in length or subtract another centimeter in width. They have maximized the best design. Transshipment time depends on various factors such as wind direction, wind speed, bridge schedule, which can take from two to four days. Photographer Oossanen has captured such a transitional moment many times, but he emphasized that no scene is the same and that he himself is constantly trying to find new points. “Every boat is different. It’s always on the same route, but I try to find different angles,” he said. The design of the ship was carefully speculated to be able to get through the Dutch canal The photographer especially wanted to document this journey as he believes it may be one of the last times a ship of this size will travel along the route. It is known that Feadship has opened a new facility in Amsterdam, the Netherlands capable of building super yachts up to 160 meters long. The Dutch government has also confirmed the expansion plan in Kornwerderzand, which means that large ships can go directly from Makkum to the North Sea in the future.

Venice, Italy known as “floating city” because it was built on many small islands in the Venetian Lagoon area along the Adriatic Sea. The city is home to more than 260,000 people. With Padova, Venezia is located in the Padova-Venezia urban area with a population of 1.6 million people. The city’s economy is mainly based on tourism, shipbuilding (mainly in Mestre and Porto Marghera), services, trade and industrial exports. Image: Reuters . Istanbul, Turkey , is the largest city in the country with a population of more than 14 million people. Istanbul is also one of the largest cities in Europe. City across the Bosphorus – one of the busiest sea lanes in the world – in northwestern Turkey, connecting the Sea of ​​Marmara and the Black Sea. Considered a global city, Istanbul contributes more than 25% of Turkey’s GDP. Image: Getty Images. Shenzhen is a city located on the east bank of Pearl River mouth in Guangdong province, China. Before it became a special economic zone, Shenzhen was also a fishing village. Shenzhen is one of the fastest growing cities in the world in the 1990s and 2000s. The city has the 3rd largest port system in the world, is the 9th financial center in the world and the technology center. Top. Image: Getty Images. City Rio de Janeiro of Brazil lies along the Atlantic coast, built on a strait in Guanabara Bay. The city used to be the capital of Brazil until 1960. Natural scenery and beaches make Rio de Janeiro one of the tourist attractions of the country. Image: Getty Images. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, located at the Comarca of Barcelonès, along the Mediterranean coast. The city is a transport hub, with the Port of Barcelona being one of Europe’s major seaports and Europe’s busiest passenger port. Image: Getty Images. Paris Built on the banks of the Seine with the center of le de la Cité island, the city is located at the intersection of road and river trade routes. Currently, Paris is the top producing region, accounting for 33% of France’s GDP and is considered a global city with New York, London and Tokyo. Image: Getty Images. Tourism is a key industry of the coastal city Miami of the South Florida metropolitan area, USA. The city’s economy developed rapidly in the early twentieth century thanks to the resorts and services. The seaport is also busy with many cruise ships docking at the city port. The city is also known as the “Yacht Capital of the World” and “Cargo Gate of America”. Image: Getty Images. Rotterdam is a port city near the Maas River, the largest city in the southern Netherlands province (Zuid-Holland). Proclaimed to be established in 1328, Rotterdam is today one of the world’s major ports. The largest port of Rotterdam in Europe and the largest in the world since 1962 but in 2004 was won the title by the port in Shanghai. Image: Getty Images. Similar to the Rotterdam model, Yokohama Japan’s is also a port municipality. It is the largest seaport in Japan, operating a stature commercial center in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The city is located on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kanto region of the main island of Honshu. Image: Reuters .