Asian shipping 'tycoon' acquires Dutch logistics company

With this deal, NYK Line hopes to diversify its revenue sources as shipping is highly sensitive to changes in the global economy.

The container ship NYK Antares of Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen. Illustration photo: REUTERS

NYK's European unit, Yusen Logistics, will acquire all of Movianto's shares from parent company Walden Group International. The deal is expected to close in December 2025 after approval by European regulators.

Founded in 2006, Movianto specializes in the transport and logistics of temperature-controlled medical supplies and equipment, and currently has 138 locations in 12 countries, including the UK , France and Germany. The company's revenue is expected to reach approximately €790 million in fiscal 2024.

NYK’s current four-year business plan, which runs through fiscal 2026, lists non-maritime logistics businesses as a key investment area and earmarks 1.4 trillion yen ($9.4 billion) for investments. The group has already acquired a British e-commerce delivery platform company in February 2024 and a Dutch auto parts delivery company in April 2025.

NYK's earnings have been strong recently, helped by strong shipping demand and high freight rates. Revenue rose 8% to 2.59 trillion yen in the fiscal year ended March 2025, while net profit jumped 110% to 477.7 billion yen.

However, shipping remains a highly sensitive business to economic and geopolitical risks. With the Trump administration imposing additional tariffs on many countries and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere, concerns about a looming global economic downturn are growing. Other shipping lines are also rapidly expanding their businesses, including Mitsui OSK Lines, which has made a move into real estate.