De Jong Shipping Group has acquired a minority stake in Belgian inland shipping company TransMatch, effective from 1 January 2026, marking a significant step in the company’s growth strategy and strengthening its position in the Northwest European inland shipping market.
The investment supports De Jong Shipping Group’s ambition to expand its inland shipping activities while increasing its commercial reach. It also represents the group’s first structural presence in Belgium, a market known for its strong local networks and family-owned businesses. By partnering with TransMatch, De Jong Shipping gains access to a company that is firmly established within the Belgian inland shipping sector.
TransMatch has rapidly built a reputation as an agile operator, combining a growing owned fleet with a strong commercial network. The company is active across the ARA region, Belgium, Northern France, and parts of the Rhine and Moselle waterways.
The partnership is designed to strengthen both companies’ market positions by combining complementary expertise. De Jong Shipping Group brings extensive experience in push barge shipping, while TransMatch contributes its strong foundation in motor vessel operations and regional market knowledge. Together, the companies aim to increase flexibility in vessel deployment and provide more efficient transport solutions for customers across a wider geographical area.
“We see cooperation as a more effective way to grow than adding capacity in an already competitive market,” said Pelger de Jong of De Jong Shipping Group. “TransMatch has a strong position in Belgian inland shipping and is deeply embedded in the local network. This step enables us to further strengthen our position in inland shipping and broaden our services.”
For customers, the collaboration is expected to deliver a larger network, greater flexibility in tonnage deployment and improved service options. The addition of TransMatch’s growing fleet is also expected to contribute to more stable pricing in a traditionally volatile market.
Lazlo Albrecht of TransMatch said the partnership was a natural next step, noting that both companies share a family-business culture, entrepreneurial mindset and commitment to long-term relationships, creating new opportunities for customers, vessel owners and partners across the inland shipping sector.
