NORDEN expands African presence with Taylor Maritime cargo takeover

NORDEN has expanded its presence in Africa by acquiring the Southern African cargo activities of Taylor Maritime, previously operating under the IVS brand. The company says this move strengthens its service for parcel trades from South Africa, with the specialist parcelling team in Durban joining NORDEN under the leadership of Brandon Paul.

NORDEN says the Durban team will continue to support customers in parcel trades from South Africa. CEO Jan Rindbo says he is pleased to welcome Brandon Paul and his team, noting that NORDEN aims to grow its activity and customer offering in Southern Africa. He adds that with a fleet of more than 400 vessels, the company plans to expand its business in the region and provide fully flexible solutions.

With this acquisition, Durban becomes NORDEN’s third office on the African continent, joining Ivory Coast and Gabon. The company sees strong potential in the region due to growing mining activity and some of the world’s fastest-growing economies. NORDEN says a local presence is important to build close partnerships with customers and other key stakeholders in Africa.

This deal is NORDEN’s third acquisition in three years. It follows the purchase of Thorco Projects in 2023 and Norwegian parcelling firm Norlat Shipping in 2024, both now part of the Freight Services & Trading business unit. Rindbo says the latest acquisition strengthens NORDEN’s parcelling strategy, as project cargo requires specialist knowledge, customisation and differentiation.

NORDEN states that the acquisition price is undisclosed and does not change its full-year 2025 guidance. The company also confirms that the deal has received the required merger clearance.