The list of contenders for the acquisition of Hutchison Port Holdings – currently owned by Hong Kong-based conglomerate Cl Hutchison – is growing, following the deadlock in negotiations with the BlackRock-Msc consortium, brought about by Beijing’s resistance. The deadline for exclusive talks expired on 27 July, effectively reopening the bidding. The first to express interest was Cosco Shipping, part of the state-owned Cosco Group, which is reportedly being positioned by the Chinese government as a necessary partner in any transaction. On 28 July, Cl Hutchison announced its intention to bring in “a major strategic investor.”
Cosco had initially appeared to be the sole candidate, but on 29 July the French group Cma Cgm declared its interest in acquiring Hutchison Port Holdings’ network of 43 container terminals, clearly unwilling to let its Swiss competitor Msc gain the upper hand. The announcement came during the presentation of its second-quarter financial results, with chief financial officer Ramon Fernandez stating, “We are closely monitoring this process and are interested in contributing to a solution that has yet to be found.”
Fernandez highlighted the strategic significance of the operation for the sector and for Cma Cgm itself, describing the company as “a key player” in the global port industry. The French group, which already operates 65 port terminals across 33 countries through its subsidiaries Cma Terminals and Terminal Link, could join the Hutchison acquisition either as the lead investor or as part of an alternative consortium to BlackRock-Msc, potentially in alliance with Cosco.
In the second quarter of 2025, Cma Cgm reported stable revenues of 13.17 billion US dollars, up slightly by 0.3% from the same period in 2024. However, net profit declined to 521 million dollars from 661 million the previous year, reflecting the ongoing challenges in the container shipping market. Despite this, the French group has maintained a strong financial position, which would allow it to support a major acquisition. Investments completed in recent years, totalling 3.9 billion dollars, underscore Cma Cgm’s financial strength and strategic commitment to expanding its terminal portfolio.
