HAMBURG SUD has formally announced with effect from 31 December 2005, Hamburg Süd has taken over the business of Ybarra y Cía. Sudamérica S.A. (Ybarra Sud) after having held a stake in the operations of the Spanish shipping company since 1989. Following the acquisition for a sum not disclosed, the liner services between the Western Mediterranean and South America East Coast will continue to operate under the existing Ybarra Sud brand.

A statement from the German shipping line said that in the wake of the takeover, Hamburg Süd is establishing a new "Area Western Mediterranean" (AWM) with its area office in Barcelona, from where the shipping group intends to coordinate all Ybarra Sud activities in the western Med, i.e. Spain, France and Italy in the future. All trade management duties, as well as the operational tasks, will be performed by Hamburg Süd head office in close cooperation with the AWM management team.