Hapag-Lloyd has strengthened its presence in Rwanda with the establishment of a new office in Kigali, expanding the German container shipping line’s footprint in East Africa.
The new office is expected to improve Hapag-Lloyd’s access to customers in Rwanda and surrounding markets while providing closer support for exporters, importers and logistics partners. Kigali’s position as a regional commercial centre makes it an important base for serving cargo flows in the landlocked country.
Rwanda relies heavily on road and regional port connections for international trade, with cargo moving through neighbouring countries and major gateways in East Africa. Hapag-Lloyd’s expanded local presence could help improve coordination across these supply chains.
The Kigali office will support customers with shipping-related services and facilitate closer interaction with local businesses. It is also expected to strengthen the carrier’s ability to identify emerging cargo opportunities and respond to changing trade patterns in the region.
East Africa has become an increasingly important market for global shipping lines as infrastructure improves and intra-regional and international trade expands. Greater connectivity between inland markets and coastal ports is creating opportunities for container shipping and logistics providers.
Hapag-Lloyd has been expanding its African network through new services, offices and partnerships as part of its broader growth strategy. A stronger presence in Rwanda will complement its existing operations across East Africa.
The move is expected to provide customers in Rwanda with more direct access to Hapag-Lloyd’s global network and support the company’s long-term growth in the region.