Singapore’s PSA International has confirmed that it has agreed to acquire Poland’s largest container terminal as part of a consortium.
Other partners in the deal to takeover DCT Gdansk include the Polish Development Fund (PFR) and the IFM Global Infrastructure Fund (GIF) managed by IFM Investors.
The terminal, which has a throughput of 1.9m-teu per annum, is being acquired from Australian finance giant Macquarie. Financial terms were not disclosed.
DCT Gdansk is situated at the crossroads of the Baltic deep-sea trading routes and is said to hold a “strategic position’ as a major gateway into Poland and Central-Eastern European markets.
It is described as “the fastest growing container port in Europe” and is ranked amongst the 15 largest container ports on the continent.
DCT Gdansk offers a quay length of 1,306 meters and a maximum depth of 17 meters, the terminal is said to be “well-equipped” to handle the largest container vessels calling at the terminal and is said to be the only terminal in the Baltic that can currently serve 23,000-teu containerships.
“DCT Gdansk is PSA’s first investment in Eastern Europe, and we look forward to…further developing its facilities and to strengthen its position as the preferred port of call for Poland and the Baltic Sea,” said PSA International chief executive Tan Chong Meng.
“Through leveraging our global network and our expertise in creating value for the port and shipping communities, PSA will partner with shipping lines, logistics operators and cargo owners to deliver more efficient, flexible and robust supply chain solutions for the region.”
Construction of the port began in 2005 with the outgoing shareholders facilitating the greenfield development of the port.
Following a significant capital expenditure programme, the port’s capacity doubled in 2016 with the completion of a second quay.
"Given the constant growth and development of the business, the terminal is expected to reach full capacity utilisation in the upcoming years," the PSA said.
"To allow for further development...the investors will explore the construction of a new expansion area and further increases in capacity."
