Mærsk in conflict with Aarhus Port – now council politicians are demanding answers in the matter.

Mærsk in Conflict with Aarhus Port – City Council Politician Demands Answers in the Matter

APM Terminals, the Mærsk-owned company, is fighting to keep competitors out of Aarhus Port

Aarhus Port handles around 700,000 containers annually. It is Denmark's largest industrial port. (Photo: Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix) (Photo: © Bo Amstrup, Ritzau Scanpix) (Photo: © Bo Amstrup, Ritzau Scanpix) 18 minutes ago

In the summer, Aarhus abandoned plans to expand its industrial port.

However, the matter has developed further, involving the right to handle container traffic in and out of the port.

Aarhus Port handles over 70% of container traffic to Denmark, and until now, the Mærsk-owned company APM Terminals has been the only container operator on the port.

But now, the company risks competition, as the port is negotiating with other companies.

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Mayor Plans to Develop the Port

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The chairman of the port, Mayor Jacob Bundsgaard, says it's about utilizing the existing areas on the port better.

- There has been a long process of wanting a port expansion, which is now on hold, and that means we are now forced to look elsewhere to develop Aarhus Port, and that's part of it, says Jacob Bundsgaard.

Jacob Bundsgaard will not confirm whether the port has discussed matters with one of APM Terminals' competitors, but he says there is intense interest from various actors.

- There is also a great interest from many different actors. It's not just about containers, but it's just as much about other types of businesses that need space on the port, says Jacob Bundsgaard.

APM Terminals has taken the port to court, among other things, because they feel they have not been consulted. They also believe there is no room for two container operators in Aarhus.

Simultaneously, APM Terminals is threatening to abandon a 2 billion DKK investment they had previously announced for improving container handling at Aarhus Port.

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The Matter is Being Followed at City Hall

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Enhedslisten's city council member in Aarhus, Solveig Munk, plans to raise the matter at a city council meeting on Wednesday. She wants to engage in dialogue with Mærsk.

- I could still imagine that, but the question is, has the conflict escalated so much that that possibility has already passed, she says.

APM Terminals does not wish to grant an interview, but APM Terminals CEO, Mikael Gutman, writes in an email about Enhedslisten's proposal for the upcoming city council meeting:

- We welcome Enhedslisten's desire for dialogue and stand ready to provide the Council with any necessary information or answers to questions, as needed. We want the future of Aarhus Port's container operations to be decided on a legal and transparent basis, so we can develop the port into one of the most competitive container ports in the region while ensuring the green transition of our operations to the benefit of importers, exporters, and the local population.

The case goes before the court on October 31.

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