^{Photo: LBC Tank Terminals}

The Japanese shipping conglomerate Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has completed the acquisition of all membership rights in LBC Tank Terminals Group Holding Netherlands Coöperatief U.A.

MOL states that it received approval from all relevant authorities for the acquisition pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement signed on March 7, 2025, and that the acquisition price of the membership rights is US$1,715 million.

LBC is a large global independent tank terminal company, primarily handling and storing chemicals, operating seven terminals in Europe (Antwerp and Rotterdam) and the US Gulf Coast region (Houston, Freeport and Baton Rouge). 

The MOL Group has positioned the chemical logistics business as a strategic business domain where it expects growth in the future.

As MOL mentions, after the acquisitions of Nordic Tankers in 2019 and Fairfield Chemical Carriers in 2024, the acquisition of LBC will enable the Group to strengthen its chemical logistics service by incorporating tank storage business into its portfolio, alongside marine transportation.

“Together with LBC, we will accelerate our business reforms into a social infrastructure service provider to achieve our long-term Group Vision. We see great potential for both companies’ growth by combining MOL’s global reach with LBC’s expertise in tank terminal operations and creating new value for customers and society. Together with LBC, we will expand the value-chain of the next-generation energy business, in addition to strengthening the chemical logistics business,” says Takeshi Hashimoto, MOL president and CEO.