by Mattia Micheli, SeaNewsEditor
The “magnificent Seven” is a term given to the top port operators in the world. A new report by Drewry confirmed that leads for 2023, with PSA International coming on top.
Collectively, the seven companies control over 40% of the worldwide port operator market.
The top three companies, all based in Asia, manage port facilities, enabling connectivity with other supply chain links. This article will examine the top three port operators and the main ports they manage.
PSA International
PSA International, with headquarters in Singapore, is the operator with the highest market share.
Its portfolio comprises more than 170 facilities in 45 countries, including major ports in Southeast Asia, Middle East South Asia, Northeast Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean, and the Americas.
In Southeast Asia, PSA International operates terminals in the Port of Singapore, the second-largest port in the world. Its container terminals occupy an area of 810ha and have 55 container berths.
The company also operates the PSA Antwerp terminal, which has 16 container berths and an area of 383 ha.
With 62.6 million TEU under its control in 2023, the company registered an average growth of 4.6% year-on-year from 2022.
China Merchants Ports
China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited, a subsidiary of China Merchants Group, is a leading port operator with a significant global presence.
The company operates in 25 countries and manages a network of 41 ports, including major facilities in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Qingdao.
With approximately 130 berths worldwide, China Merchants Ports has a handling capacity of 55 million TEU in 2023 and a market share of 6.4%.
China COSCO Shipping
China COSCO Shipping secured the third spot with 53.8 million TEU in 2023, a market share of 6.2% and an average growth of 1.4%.
The company is a state-owned multinational conglomerate that manages numerous major ports globally, including key terminals in Piraeus, Greece, and Valencia, Spain.
Outside the top three, APM Terminals ranked fourth, making it the top European port operator in the world.
APM Terminals is owned by the Maersk group, which saw a negative year-on-year growth of -1.2% between 2022 and 2023.
With its 10.3% year-on-year growth, there is a risk that MSC Group - owned by MSC and currently seventh on the list - could surpass Maersk in port operations, as the case was two years ago regarding fleet size.
