In a significant move reshaping the container shipping sector, China Merchants Energy Shipping Company Limited announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Sinotrans Container Line will acquire a substantial stake in Antong Holdings, marking a pivotal shift in the company’s approach to restructuring its container shipping business.
Originally, China Merchants Energy Shipping had planned to inject its subsidiaries into Antong Holdings, effectively executing a reverse merger to help the latter go public. This strategy aimed to create a comprehensive logistics platform combining international and domestic container shipping with car carrier services. However, despite making significant progress—including signing framework agreements and obtaining regulatory approvals—the reverse merger plan was eventually terminated in May 2025 due to market dynamics and unsatisfactory terms.
Undeterred by the setback, China Merchants Energy Shipping has now pivoted to a more direct approach by acquiring a 13.80% stake in Antong Holdings. The purchase, valued at up to ¥1.8 billion ($250 million), makes Sinotrans Container Line the largest single shareholder in Antong, strengthening its influence over the company.
This acquisition represents a strategic move from a complex reverse merger to a more streamlined “control through equity” approach. The aim is to integrate both companies’ complementary strengths—Sinotrans’ expertise in international trade routes and Antong’s dominance in domestic coastal shipping. The synergy between the two could accelerate the development of a unified brand or platform to enhance competitiveness in global container logistics.
Further, China Merchants Energy Shipping plans to continue increasing its stake in the coming months, potentially boosting its control in the company even more. This marks an important milestone in its broader strategy to reshape its container shipping operations, leveraging Antong’s stronghold in the domestic market to complement its international reach.
With global container shipping increasingly driven by the regionalization of supply chains, this acquisition positions China Merchants Energy Shipping and Antong to capitalize on the growing demand for feeder vessels, a key market segment. The overall integration of both companies’ fleets could place them within the top 20 global container shipping companies, giving China Merchants Energy Shipping a powerful edge in the evolving market landscape.
This move underscores China Merchants Energy Shipping’s commitment to evolving with the changing maritime industry, reinforcing its strategic flexibility as it adapts to current challenges and opportunities.
by Xinde Marine News Chen Yang
The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Xinde Marine News.
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