Europe is home to a diverse network of economies, supported by advanced infrastructures and highly skilled workforces, which have transformed the continent into a thriving hub of trade and economic investment. For this reason, many businesses across Europe are seeking reliable and cost-effective shipping and logistics solutions that can support supply chains and help businesses expand their operations towards the future. Across Europe, one of the leading logistics companies is A.P. Møller – Mærsk (Maersk), offering integrated shipping solutions that have now positioned Maersk as a leading global supply chain partner for Europe, supported by its international integrated network and local expertise across the entire shipping and logistics chain.
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Founded in Denmark in 1904, Maersk has been present in Europe for over 120 years, providing vital shipping and logistics solutions across its extensive network of offices and port operations spanning the continent. Across Europe, Maersk offers integrated logistics solutions to help customers deliver streamlined supply chains, supporting their cargo along their journeys from start to end, via road, rail, ocean and air transport solutions. Across these networks, customers can leverage Maersk’s local and global expertise within the international sector to cover all their logistics needs from origin to destination.
A key example of Maersk’s operation in Europe can be found in Portugal, where the company connects many of Portugal’s leading businesses to the world through its unrivalled and integrated global fleet. For Portugal, Maersk provides smooth end-to-end delivery of products through its strong inland transportation services. Through trucks, rail, barge and ocean fleets, Maersk provides comprehensive shipping services to and from Portugal. These services span container transport of both Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL). These container services are then met with Maersk’s vital customers’ brokerage operation, cold chain solutions, and inland logistics network to help move these containers across sea, rail and road connections to key markets both within the country and across the world.
One of the most notable ports Maersk operates from is the Port of Sines, which is Portugal’s largest deep-sea port, providing vital container operations to large vessels. The port features advanced deep berths, which make it ideal for handling large cargo quantities across its modern and specialised terminals. Thanks to the open-deep water nature of the sea port, the Port of Sines is vital for the country’s maritime success, handling vast quantities of cargo for the Portuguese sector. The port plays a valuable role in the country’s energy sector because it facilitates the delivery of crude oil, refined products and natural gas to the country.
In addition, the port also has the vital infrastructure for general and containerised cargo. The port’s cargo operation has been particularly of value in recent years, as the country’s containerised cargo sector has seen high growth potential for Europe, positioning the port as a key container port serving the Iberian Peninsula, as well as wider markets across Europe and the globe. Thus, due to the volume of cargo, the Port of Sines today is a leading national port for Portugal, supported by state-of-the-art equipment and a highly qualified workforce to deliver vital energy and cargo operations for Portugal, which in turn positions the country as a key and competitive hub within the global market, that has direct links with the world’s leading production and consuming markets. With the Port of Sines playing such a valuable role in the development of Portugal’s cargo and energy market, it’s no surprise that Maersk provides vital shipping and logistics routes to and from the port, to ensure that these vital sectors can continue to support the development of the country and local businesses in the process.
Another key port utilised by Maersk to enhance Portugal’s supply chains is the Port of Lisbon, which is the busiest overall port for the country, handling large container volumes, general cargo, and providing vital cruise and passenger operations. Thus, with such a vast array of operations, the Port of Lisbon is a vital connector for global trade for the country. Thanks to the port’s excellent location, the Port of Lisbon is essential for cargo operations, with regular large cargo ships arriving at the port along regular global shipping lines. These cargo operations, working alongside cruise operations, deliver the port as a thriving hub of economic development, where cruise and cargo operations meet to support Portugal’s economic growth.
The Port of Leixões is one of the most interconnected ports in Portugal, with exports from the port travelling to 184 countries across the world, and so a key stopping point for Maersk’s shipping schedules. Located in the north of Portugal, the Port of Leixões is just 2.5 nautical miles from the Douro River and within close proximity to the city of Porto. The port is made of a conventional quay for general cargo and bulk solids, and features a liquid bulk handling pier, oil tanker terminal, container terminal, ro-ro terminal, multi-purpose terminal, cruise terminal, marine dock, fishing port, as well as specialised facilities for silos, deposits and warehouses.
The central commodities handled by the Port of Leixões range from general and bulk cargo, to raw, pressed and sawn timber, iron, steel, granite stones, scrap metal, agro-food bulk goods, general machinery and project cargoes. The port is able to handle such a diverse array of cargoes thanks to the North Container Terminal and South Container Terminal. The North Container Terminal has a handling capacity of 170,000 TEUs per year, supported by reach stackers and 3 front-end forklifts. Then, South Container Terminal has the capacity to handle 600,000 TEUs per year. With such a wealth of cargo travelling through the port, it’s clear to see why it is a major port gateway to the country, responsible for handling a large portion of Portugal’s total seaborne trade. Therefore, the Port of Leixões is key to Maersk’s operations, facilitating vital shipping and logistics services to and from the port, which enables Portuguese businesses to connect globally through the company’s extensive global shipping network.
As we have seen from these key ports in Portugal, Maersk’s operations are vital to supporting the country’s overall connectivity within global markets, and so by leveraging Maersk’s international network, businesses across Portugal, and more widely across Europe, can benefit from the company’s extensive networks and expertise to support economies and keep supply chains moving. Thus, with Europe being such a vital region for Maersk’s international network, the division is looking towards the future with the recent appointment of Guillaume Sauzedde as Regional Managing Director for Europe at Maersk. The announcement of Sauzedde’s new role came in January 2026, who has worked for Maersk since 2024, bringing over 25 years of experience in the logistics industry to the role.
In the announcement of the new Regional Managing Director for Europe, Sauzedde’s commented, “I am looking forward to continuing serving our customers together with the great Maersk teams I got to know over the past 16 months with the company. Over the past years, Maersk has established itself with an extensive logistics footprint across Europe, including ownership and control of decisive assets and expertise across all parts of the supply chains. It’s exciting to have such a powerful and differentiating offer for our customers in these disruptive times and to deliver resilient, value-adding, end-to-end solutions to them”. As we can see from Sauzedde’s comments, the European division of Maersk’s operations has seen significant growth in recent years and is now a vital shipping and logistics partner for customers to enhance European supply chains and boost operations from Europe on a global scale.
Thus, as European markets continue to expand, more businesses are requiring vital shipping and logistics solutions to help keep supply chains moving and support the long term economic development of countries across Europe. As we have seen in Portugal specifically, Maersk serves key ports that support vital international trade, positioning itself as a leading end-to-end supply chain facilitator set on advancing customers’ needs and leveraging its network for the economic benefit of Europe as a whole. Thus, with the appointment of Guillaume Sauzedde, the Europe division of Maersk’s operations looks set for vital development towards the future, as Sauzedde looks set to continue to enhance European connectivity supported by Maersk’s leading network of shipping and logistics solutions.
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