De Jong Shipping Acquires Stake in Belgian Inland Specialist

De Jong Shipping, a prominent Dutch maritime operator, has taken a strategic equity stake in TransMatch, a specialized inland shipping operator based in Belgium. This transaction represents a consolidation move within Europe's inland waterway sector, combining De Jong's established shipping infrastructure with TransMatch's localized Belgian river transport expertise. The partnership enhances both companies' ability to serve multimodal supply chains throughout Northern Europe, particularly for shippers requiring coordination between deep-sea ocean vessels and barge networks that serve inland industrial centers.

For supply chain professionals, this deal signals ongoing consolidation in European inland shipping—a sector critical for connecting seaports with landlocked distribution hubs. By integrating TransMatch's operations, De Jong gains direct access to Belgian river corridors and improves its ability to offer door-to-door services without reliance on third-party barge operators. This kind of vertical integration typically reduces handoff delays, improves scheduling reliability, and can stabilize pricing for regular corridor users.

The broader implication is that shippers increasingly expect major logistics providers to own or control multiple transport modes across their service region. This investment trend suggests that over the next 12–24 months, further consolidation in inland shipping is likely, particularly as providers seek to compete against integrated logistics giants offering seamless end-to-end solutions.