DP World: Pushed into selling the US port assets it acquired as a result of its acquisition of P&O Ports, it looks like DP World is likely to get top dollar for them. The bush telegraph (excuse the pun, not Him) says a price of more than $700m is on the cards as the sale process marches into Phase 2 with investment houses, port operators and shipping lines in the running.

At one time, it was rumoured that the US government would guarantee a minimum sale price but this doesn’t now look as though it will be necessary. Marine Terminals Corp: This Oakland, Californiabased company, operator of 13 terminals on the US West Coast, has hired Goldman Sachs Inc to explore options including a possible sale.

If the sale option is taken up a price tag of up to $2bn could result. Stevedoring Services of America: This is one company going the other way.It was put on the market for a sale of around $2bn but did not receive any serious takers at this price.It has some good port assets but is also heavily involved in contract stevedoring for the US intermodal industry with contracts renewable on an annual basis.

Still it cannot complain that much, the privately owned concern was touted around just a few years back to a select bunch of buyers with a one billion dollar price tag on it – half the price! Orient Overseas (International): This group has short-listed a handful of bidders to sell its North American terminal assets to.

Morgan Stanley has forecast a price tag for OOIL’s terminals division – which operates two terminals in the Port of Vancouver, one in New York City and one in New Jersey – of between $1bn and $1.3bn. The sale is expected to be completed by the end of the year.