German steel company Salzgitter Flachstahl and Oldendorff Carriers have entered into a long-term agreement to reduce carbon emissions in the maritime transport of iron ore, marking a further step toward decarbonising Salzgitter’s steel supply chain.
Starting in January 2026, Oldendorff will transport iron ore for Salzgitter from various loading ports to Hamburg using bulk carriers operated with a focus on fuel-efficient practices. By optimising cargo flows and routing, the collaboration is expected to reduce CO₂e emissions by at least 20%. Salzgitter will incur no additional costs as a result of these measures – in fact, the reduction of transport fuel consumption will lead to cost savings.
The collaboration is projected to cut approximately 19,000 tonnes of CO₂e per year. The reductions represent Scope 1 emissions for Oldendorff and Scope 3 emissions for Salzgitter.
Gunnar Groebler, Chairman of the Executive Board, Salzgitter, said: “In our SALCOS project, 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.”
Henrik Christiansen, Oldendorff Executive Director and Head of Sustainability, 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.”
This German collaboration reflects the decarbonisation strategies of both companies, with each pursuing concrete measures to reduce emissions across their operations. Oldendorff’s fleet primarily consists of modern ‘eco’-type bulk carriers, which are designed to reduce fuel consumption compared to earlier vessel generations. Optimised hull forms, advanced engine technology, and additional fuel-saving features contribute to a lower carbon intensity per tonne of cargo transported.
Salzgitter and Oldendorff are joining to cut CO2 emissions from bulk ore transport (source: Oldendorff Carriers)
