SINGAPORE's PSA International has agreed to acquire 22 per cent of Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT), the world's biggest inland port, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.

Duisport was one of the main points for rail freight between China and Europe, the conduit for 95 per cent of all rail traffic. But because of the Russo-Ukraine War, China to Duisburg January to May rail freight fell 79 per cent to 4,496 TEU year on year.

PSA already has a sizeable presence in Europe, with terminals in Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Poland, as well as in Turkey, and the minority stake in DGT will see the port operator joining fellow shareholders Hupac, HTS Group and Duisport in developing the terminal.

"As part of Europe's largest and most sustainable inland port, DGT will be a key gateway in providing green logistics services to Germany's dense industrial hinterland," said PSA chief executive Tan Chong Meng.

The acquisition is subject to approval from Germany's competition authority. When completed, DGT will be the largest container terminal in the European hinterland, covering an area of 235,000 square metres.

Duisburg is located on the Rhine and in 2022 handled four million TEU, down seven compared with the previous year. But the inland terminal is a key transshipment point for ships and barges from deep-sea hubs, such as Antwerp and Rotterdam, as well as for cargo transported by truck and rail.