Hutchison Ports has celebrated its 50th anniversary by announcing that it has become the world’s first port operator to achieve a cumulative global throughput of 1.3 billion TEU.
Announced at a cocktail reception in Hong Kong, Hutchison invited leading officials to join the celebration, including Secretary for Transport and Housing Bureau of the HKSAR Government Frank Chan.
Speaking at the ceremony, he said: “Today, over 90 per cent 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.
Michael Yip, Modern Terminals Limited, discusses container trade in Hong Kong in a recent Port Technology technical paper
“Hong Kong is the seventh largest merchandise trading entity globally, and the majority of port cargo is transported in containers. Hong Kong is also one of the ten busiest container ports in the world.”
Chan also pointed in his speech to the key role played by Hutchison in facilitating the high volume of container throughput handled in Hong Kong, solidifying the location’s status as a global trade hub.
#Insight Once the world’s busiest port, Hong Kong Port has suffered 14 years of decline since it lost its crown in 2005… #PTIDaily #HongKong #Ports #Shippinghttps://t.co/oAVyGwfkDT
— Port Technology (PTI) (@PortTechnology) February 6, 2019
Eric Ip, Group Managing Director of Hutchison Ports, addressed those in attendance as well, focusing on the significance of Hong Kong as a “key hub for our global operations”.
Ip commented: “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.”
Hutchison Ports currently operates 51 ports across 26 countries and handles 11% of marine cargo trade around the world.
