Seatrade Maritime is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Hutchison Ports celebrates 50 years with 1.3bn teu throughput milestone

6c3c913da799f4681622bce3e5da00c3
If 1.3bn teu of containers were to be lined up end-to-end, they would go around the earth almost two hundred times.

And the throughput of 1.3bn teu is what Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports has achieved cumulatively from its 50 years of global operations, the world’s first operator to have achieved such a milestone.

Speaking at the group’s 50th anniversary cocktail reception in Hong Kong, group managing director of Hutchison Ports Eric Ip said: “Our story begins here in Hong Kong with a single berth, and Hong Kong remains the key hub for our global operations – our home base for grooming talent based here and overseas. Over the last fifty years, we have built a solid foundation and put in place a strong and balanced portfolio that is evenly distributed amongst all the regions, creating a portfolio that is resilient, especially in times of volatility. We are extremely proud to have played our part in the growth of Hong Kong as a global trading centre. This is truly a Hong Kong success story.”

Ip added: “These achievements would not have been possible without the continued support from our business partners, customers and most importantly the dedication and commitment of our staff. A special tribute to the pioneers of Hutchison Ports, who ventured into the uncharted territories of the port and logistics sector with an entrepreneurial spirit. They have helped build a solid foundation for future growth.”

Frank Chan, Secretary for Transport and Housing Bureau of the HKSAR Government, noted that Hong Kong is the seventh largest merchandise trading entity globally, and the majority of port cargo is transported in containers.

“Today, over 90% of freight volume to and from Hong Kong is transported by sea, demonstrating the vital importance of our maritime industry to Hong Kong's economy. Hong Kong is also one of the 10 busiest container ports in the world. Hutchison Ports plays a vital role in facilitating Hong Kong as well as global container trade and has contributed to the growth of Hong Kong as a global trading centre,” Chan said.

As the largest Hong Kong-based ports and logistics company with a workforce of more than 30,000 people worldwide, Hutchison Ports operates in 51 ports across 26 countries and handles 11% of global marine cargo trade, meaning one in nine containers shipped around the world has gone through one of its ports.

photo2.jpg