New operators entering the arena?

The new players bring both local and international competition into the mix. Most notably, China Shipping Terminal Development has entered the Drewry league table in seventh position for the first time with its interests in 15 terminals in China and the US.

Terminal Investment Ltd (TIL) also seems to be becoming more of a contender, partly due to its relationship with the MSC line, it topped 12m teu 2011 putting it at position six in the table.

Meanwhile the “big four” operators accounted for 26.5% of world container throughput in 2011. PSA was once again out on top but by a much reduced margin of just over 4m teu over HPH after its divestment of its interests in HPH’s Hong Kong terminals. The closely matched DP World and APM Terminals follow in third and fourth place respectively.

A spokesperson from HPH, emphasised to Port Strategy that when it comes to throughput count, “it should not be equity-based”. They said to PS that: “Throughput achievement is not an equity issue. It has nothing to do with equity, but is all about the management role and how well the terminals are being managed. HPH has management role in almost all of our port operations, therefore we should take throughput achievement on a 100% basis.”

Elsewhere, the league table remains dynamic with plenty of acquisition activity including APMT’s recent takeover of a significant stake in Russia’s Global Ports Investments (GPI). And this looks set to continue with speculation continuing surrounding more shipping lines being sold – notably CMA CGM’s Terminal Link.