Maersk and CATL deepen logistics partnership to accelerate supply chain decarbonisation
AP Moller-Maersk has struck a strategic partnership with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), the Chinese battery manufacturer, in a deal aimed at advancing electrification across global supply chains whilst bolstering the logistics capabilities of the Shenzhen-listed company.
The memorandum of understanding, signed in Hong Kong on 9 October, formalises and extends a five-year working relationship between the Danish shipping and logistics group and CATL, the world's largest electric vehicle battery producer.
Logistics integration
Under the agreement, Maersk will serve as CATL's preferred global logistics partner, providing integrated services spanning ocean freight, air freight, project logistics and warehousing. The arrangement is designed to support CATL's international expansion as the company seeks to strengthen its position in overseas markets amid intensifying competition in the battery sector.
The partnership will see the two companies develop tailored logistics solutions for diverse markets, with a focus on maintaining supply chain resilience in what both parties acknowledge is a rapidly evolving global landscape. Maersk, which operates in more than 130 countries and employs approximately 100,000 people, will leverage its established infrastructure to support CATL's operational requirements.
Decarbonisation initiatives
Beyond logistics, the two groups will collaborate on electrifying key nodes across the supply chain using CATL's battery technology. Areas of focus include container shipping, port infrastructure, inland transportation and warehousing, supported by electric system design, energy management and end-of-life battery recycling solutions.
CATL will be designated as a preferred battery technology partner for Maersk's decarbonisation roadmap. The Danish company has set an ambitious target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its entire business by 2040, a timeline that outpaces many industry peers.
CATL, which has maintained its position as the world's leading EV battery supplier by consumption volume for eight consecutive years as of 2024, has its own substantial climate commitments. The company aims to achieve carbon neutrality in core operations by 2025 and across its entire battery supply chain by 2035.
Strategic significance
The partnership reflects broader efforts within the logistics sector to address emissions, which remain substantial despite incremental technological progress. Shipping accounts for approximately 3 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, with the International Maritime Organization having set a target of net-zero emissions by or around 2050.
For CATL, the arrangement provides enhanced access to global logistics infrastructure at a time when the company faces margin pressure and intensifying competition, particularly in the Chinese domestic market. The battery maker, which listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in May 2025 following its 2018 Shenzhen debut, has also maintained market leadership in global energy storage battery shipments for four consecutive years.
The agreement was signed by Morten Bo Christiansen, senior vice president and global head of energy transition at Maersk, and Akin Li, executive president of overseas car business at CATL. The ceremony was witnessed by Robert Maersk Uggla, chairman of Maersk, and Libin Tan, chief customer officer and co-president of sales and marketing at CATL.
The partnership will test whether scalable electrification solutions can be developed for the logistics industry, where the transition away from fossil fuels has proved technically challenging and economically complex. Maersk defines reduced greenhouse gas emissions fuels as those achieving at least 65 per cent reductions on a lifecycle basis compared to conventional alternatives.