De Jong Shipping Group has acquired a minority stake in Belgian inland shipping operator TransMatch. It marks the first time the Dutch group has had a formal presence in the Belgian market. The deal forms part of De Jong Shipping’s wider growth strategy in inland and push barge shipping across Northwest Europe. The companies said the partnership would broaden operational coverage and strengthen commercial activities in the ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) arc, and inland European waterways.
The Rotterdam-based group said the acquisition reflected a preference for cooperation over adding additional vessel capacity in an already competitive market. TransMatch operates in Belgium, Northern France and sections of the Rhine and Moselle regions. It combines a growing owned fleet with charter activities using vessels ranging from 500 to 4,000 tonnes capacity. The company handles dry bulk and project cargo cargoes, including grain, fertiliser, coal, cellulose, aggregates and steel products.
Combining push barges and motor vessels
De Jong Shipping said the transaction would allow the companies to combine complementary operations in push barge and motor vessel shipping. The group is one of the Netherlands’ larger inland shipping operators. It has expanded its activities in recent years into shortsea shipping, port agency and logistics services through its subsidiary C-Shipping & Logistics.
The companies said the partnership would improve flexibility in vessel deployment and cargo handling throughout Northwest Europe. TransMatch has regional commercial strength and local market knowledge in Belgium, while De Jong Shipping contributes expertise in push towing, floating storage and dry bulk logistics. The partners said the enlarged network would provide customers with broader transport options and improved operational responsiveness across inland waterways. The sector has seen a slight downturn in recent years (see earlier WCN reporting).
Expansion strategy in inland shipping
Pelger de Jong, the fifth generation in the De Jong family business, said the company viewed collaboration as a more effective route to growth than increasing fleet capacity independently. He described TransMatch as a business with strong roots in Belgian inland shipping and said the company’s entrepreneurial culture and market knowledge aligned closely with De Jong Shipping’s operating model.
Lazlo Albrecht of TransMatch said the agreement would support further growth while allowing both companies to retain their individual identities. He said the partnership reflected shared priorities around flexibility, direct communication and long-term customer relationships. The companies also highlighted the potential for greater pricing stability through TransMatch’s growing owned fleet in what they described as a traditionally volatile inland shipping market.
Dry bulk and logistics integration
De Jong Shipping transports around seven million tonnes of dry bulk cargo annually through its inland fleet and push barging operations, according to company information. The group also offers logistics, storage, transhipment and maritime agency services through C-Shipping & Logistics, which was established in 2019 to expand into coastal and deep-sea shipping activities.
TransMatch has also been increasing its focus on sustainability and digitalisation within inland shipping operations. In 2024, the company joined the Green Award programme and committed to reimbursing certification costs for inland vessels operating on its behalf. The Belgian company said inland waterway transport remained both cost-efficient and environmentally advantageous compared with competing transport modes.
