Salzgitter Flachstahl, a subsidiary of Salzgitter AG, and Oldendorff Carriers have entered a long-term agreement to reduce emissions in the maritime transport of iron ore.
The two German companies expect the collaboration to cut around 19kt of CO₂ emissions, the equivalent to removing 4,000 passenger cars from the road for a year.
Chairman of the executive board of Salzgitter, Gunnar Groebler, said: “We are focusing not only on decarbonising the internal production route for steelmaking, but also on related process steps along the entire value chain.
“Logistics – particularly seaborne raw material transport – plays a central role in this context. We are therefore pleased to have Oldendorff, a long-standing partner, at our side as a strong companion on our transformation journey.”
From January 2026, Oldendorff will transport iron ore for Salzgitter using bulk carriers operated with a focus on fuel-efficient practices, from various loading ports to Hamburg, Germany.
Oldendorff utilises “eco”-type bulk carriers, which are designed to reduce fuel consumption compared to earlier vessel generations. Optimised hull forms and advanced engine technology contribute to a lower carbon intensity per tonne of cargo transported.
Henrik Christiansen, executive director and head of sustainability at Oldendorff, added: “Decarbonising maritime operations is a complex challenge that requires coordination across the entire value chain.
“This partnership with Salzgitter cements the relationship between two major German companies and reflects the kind of industry collaboration needed to make meaningful and immediate progress in lowering emissions and advancing more sustainable transport solutions.”
