by Priya Radünzel, SeaNewsEditor

The sale of CK Hutchison's ports division to BlackRock and Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has been delayed due to intervention by Chinese authorities.

The transaction, valued at $22.8 billion, involves the sale of 80% of Hutchison Ports, covering 43 ports in 23 countries.

The primary cause of the delay is the review initiated by China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). The regulator has expressed concerns about fair market competition and public interest, indicating that the deal will undergo a thorough antitrust review.

Notably, the investigation has postponed the signing of the Panama Ports Company (PPC) deal, which was initially expected to be finalised by 2 April 2025.

The deal covers Hutchison Ports' 90% ownership of the Panamanian ports of Balboa and Cristobal.

Concerns have been raised about the strategic importance of these ports on either side of the canal, which handle a significant portion of global trade.

Despite these challenges, the sale has not been cancelled, and the timeline and outcome of the regulatory review remain uncertain.

MSC's involvement in the acquisition is significant. Through its terminal operator, Terminal Investment Limited (TiL), the deal would position the MSC Group as the world's largest terminal operator, significantly enhancing its capacity to manage over 78 million TEUs.