Dutch maritime operator De Jong Shipping Group has acquired a minority stake in Belgian inland shipping company TransMatch, marking its first structural move into the Belgian market and strengthening its position in the inland waterways sector.

The investment forms part of De Jong’s strategy to expand its inland shipping activities and increase its commercial reach across Northwest Europe, the company said.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

The deal brings together two family-owned businesses with complementary operations. De Jong has built a strong position in push-barge transport, while TransMatch specialises in vessel operations and has developed an extensive network across Belgium, the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region, northern France and parts of the Rhine and Moselle river systems.

The partners said the collaboration is designed to strengthen their market positions while broadening the range of cargo flows and regions they can serve.

TransMatch has established itself as a fast-growing player in inland shipping, operating a fleet of more than 15 vessels ranging from 500 dwt to 4,000 dwt capacity. The company transports a wide range of dry bulk cargoes, including grain, animal feed, fertilisers, coal, aggregates and cellulose, while also handling project cargo movements.

De Jong said the investment reflects a preference for strategic partnerships over simply adding vessel capacity in a competitive market.

“We see cooperation as a more effective way to grow than adding capacity in an already competitive market,” said Pelger de Jong, highlighting TransMatch’s strong local presence and market knowledge in Belgium.

The partnership is expected to create operational synergies by combining push-barge and vessel capabilities, giving customers greater flexibility and allowing cargoes to be handled more efficiently across inland waterways in the region, the company noted.

According to both companies, the growing owned fleet controlled by TransMatch should also help provide greater pricing stability in a market often characterised by fluctuating freight rates and changing cargo demand.

For TransMatch, the agreement offers access to a broader network and additional commercial opportunities while allowing the Belgian company to retain its identity and management structure.

Lazlo Albrecht of TransMatch described the partnership as a natural next step for two family-owned businesses that share a similar entrepreneurial culture built around flexibility, short decision-making lines and long-term customer relationships.

Founded more than a century ago, De Jong Shipping Group operates across inland shipping and push-barge transport, focusing primarily on dry bulk cargoes. The group also owns maritime services provider C-Shipping & Logistics, which offers deepsea shipping and port agency services.