Dry bulk expansion plans

AV Dawson says that the takeover of Cobra Middlesbrough, which specialises in the salt market, will grow the port’s 100 acre site by eight acres.

Gary Dawson, AV Dawson managing director said the company was excited to acquire Cobra. “We have worked closely with the business for many years, handling the import and export of salt through our port facility and supporting their rail logistics,” he said.

“Bringing both ours and their operations together, within one business, enables us to provide job security to existing staff while delivering greater efficiencies for our customers.

“We recognise that the site requires some significant investment, but this actually fits perfectly with our strengths and our strategy to invest, develop and expand our site,” he added.

The Cobra site, adjacent to the port, has extensive rail infrastructure and direct access to the East Coast Mainline rail network.

“This acquisition is also strategically important for our wider business because of its excellent rail connectivity,” said Mr Dawson.

“This is particularly important as we look to put our net zero strategy into action with the ultimate aim to become carbon neutral – we see rail as a big opportunity to help us and our customers to achieve this.”

Along with its handling and distributing of salt, Cobra also provides a range of services for the farming industry. The business receives, screens and bags polyhalite which, like salt, is mined. This is then used as a fertiliser in the agriculture sector in the UK and overseas.

This acquisition is not the first time AV Dawson has made a strategic investment to improve its rail infrastructure. In 2015, the business struck a deal with Network Rail to take full control of the seven-acre neighbouring Middlesbrough Goods Yard.