Archives



Feature, Freight News, Logistics, Rail, Sea


AV Dawson buys Cobra Middlesbrough

[ September 15, 2022   //   ]

AV Dawson, owner and operator of Port of Middlesbrough has acquired the Cobra Middlesbrough dry bulk business.

It will increase the directly adjacent Port of Middlesbrough’s footprint by eight acres and has a rail connection. In 2015, AV Dawson struck a deal with Network Rail to take full control of the seven-acre neighbouring Middlesbrough Goods Yard.

Cobra operates a dry bulk handling terminal with processing and packing facilities, specialising in the salt market. Much of the salt stored at the facility is mined locally. Some of the salt is used in animal feeds, but most is distributed to councils across the country for gritting winter roads.

Cobra also provides a range of services for the farming industry. It receives, screens and bags polyhalite for use as a fertiliser in the UK and overseas. 

AV Dawson managing director Gary Dawson, said: “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. 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.  

“This acquisition is also strategically important for our wider business because of its excellent rail connectivity. We are working with more and more of our customers to help them identify opportunities to transition from road to rail, so we need to ensure we have the capacity to accommodate their requirements.” 

Tags: