Yilport explores Baltic opportunities

Yilport, which operates four terminals in Turkey and one in Malta, acquired 80% of the shares in Gävle Container Terminal (GCT), with the Gävle municipality retaining the other 20%.

The operator says the terminal has a “highly strategic value” and it plans to expand its activities through increased integration with the dry bulk and liquid terminals of the Gävle Hamn port.

GCT’s existing equipment will be upgraded, including cranes and the Terminal Operating System (TOS).

The main aim of the acquisition is to make Gävle the second largest container terminal in Sweden after Gothenburg by introducing it to a network of liners, forwarders, exporters and importers.

Yilport says it’s also looking in to other opportunities to develop satellite ports to support GCT and create a corridor between the Baltic region, Gävle and Oslo, which will put GCT at the centre of activity between East and West.

This latest move is part of Yilport’s aim to be among the top 10 port operators globally in the next 10 years. The operator says GCT will be a “key terminal” in its global network and will increase the visibility and importance of both the port and city of Gävle worldwide.