Bruce Barnard, Special Correspondent | Sep 13, 2012 11:01AM EDT
The global container terminal rankings, currently headed by Singapore’s PSA International, face a major shake up amid renewed merger and acquisition activity and the emergence of new players, according to Drewry Shipping Consultants.
PSA’s lead over second-placed Hutchison Ports Holdings shrunk to a much reduced margin of 4 million 20-foot-equivalent units in 2011 following the divestment of its interest in HPH’s Hong Kong terminals, the London consultancy said.
PSA International handled 47.6 million TEUs last year for an 8.1 percent market share, and HPH accounted for 7.4 percent of global traffic at 43.4 million TEUs.
The ownership and rankings of the world’s major terminal operators may be “significantly different” in a year’s time, according to Neil Davidson, Drewry’s Senior Advisor-Ports.
“After a lull in M&A activity in the sector brought about by the global slowdown in 2009, activity levels are building up again and we expect to see more major deals taking place.”
DP World placed third in 2011 at 33.1 million TEUs, for a market share of 5.6 percent, closely tracked by APM Terminals 32 million TEUs and 5.4 percent of the world market.
APM’s recent $860 million investment in Russia’s Global Ports will positively influence next year’s ranking of A.P. Moller-Maersk’s port unit, Drewry said.
“Meanwhile, speculation continues about the possibility of the terminal portfolios of certain major shipping lines being sold – notably [French carrier] CAM CGM’s Terminal Link.”
The Big Four collectively accounted for 26.5 percent of world [equity] container throughput in 2011, slightly down on the previous year, due to the emergence of other large players, both international and local, according to Drewry Maritime Research’s Annual Review of Global Container Terminal Operators.
The most prominent newcomer in the top 10 is China Shipping Terminal Development, whose terminals in China and the U.S. put it in seventh place with 7.8 million TEUs and a 1.3 percent market share.
Terminal Investment Limited, which has “an important relationship” with Mediterranean Shipping Co., was another strong performer, ranking sixth with 12.1 million TEUs and a 2.1 percent market share.
Contact Bruce Barnard at brucebarnard47@hotmail.com.
