Business, Freight News, Sea
Hutchison to sell Felixstowe and worldwide ports to MSC consortium
[ March 5, 2025 // Chris Lewis ]A consortium comprising shipping line MSC’s Terminal Investment Limited (Til) arm and US investment fund BlackRock-TiL is to acquire an 80% stake in a clutch of 43 ports worldwide from Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison, including Felixstowe, the UK’s main container hub. The $22.8 billion deal includes ports and terminals in 23 countries worldwide.
The Black Rock-TiL Consortium (BRTC) will also acquire a 90% stake in Panama Ports Company (PPC) including the ports of Balboa and Cristobal. PPC had been under pressure from President Trump who has claimed that Hutchison ownership of the ports gives control of the Canal to China and had threatened to seize it, although a Hutchison spokesperson denied that the sale was due to political pressure.
Hutchison ports in Hong Kong and China are not included in the sale.
The deal is expected to be signed by 2 April 2025.
Singapore-based PSA International is also reported to be looking to sell its 20% stake in CK Hutchison’s port business.
As well as Felixstowe, the sale would include the ports of Harwich and Thamesport, along with Hutchison’s major terminal operations in European ports including Rotterdam.
Tags: Terminal Investment Ltd; BlackRock; Hutchison; Felixstowe