Germany Blocks Sale of Logistics Firm Zippel to China's Cosco Group

The German government blocked the sale of Hamburg-based logistics company Zippel to Chinese state-owned shipping group Cosco Shipping, citing security concerns. Cosco had sought to acquire an 80% stake in Zippel, a company specializing in container transport between seaports and inland destinations within the country.

The decision was adopted by the German cabinet on October 7, 2026. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy explained that the acquisition would have deepened dependencies and jeopardized the resilience of supply chains in Germany and the European Union.

Germany's antitrust authority had approved the deal in February, deeming national security issues to fall outside its remit. Following the cabinet's veto, Zippel CEO Axel Plass stated that the company would have preferred a different outcome but still considers the decision to sell correct from a business standpoint, and clarified that the company's day-to-day operations will continue as normal.

Cosco Shipping already holds a minority stake in a container terminal at the Port of Hamburg, the Tollerort terminal, where it owns 24.99%, following approval granted by the previous German government in 2023 amid sharp disagreements within the coalition. The episode adds to growing wariness among European governments over investments by Chinese state-owned companies in transport and logistics infrastructure, driven by concerns that such stakes could grant access to sensitive supply chain information.