HMM Steps Up Port Infrastructure Investments

According to relevant authorities in Mainland China, South Korean shipping company HMM is following leading shipping firms in strengthening its port infrastructure investment strategy,
aiming to increase its port assets through upgrades and acquisitions.

Reports indicate that HMM plans to invest USD 176 million to raise the annual container throughput capacity at Spain’s Port of Algeciras from the current 1.6 million TEUs by 60% to reach 2.6 million TEUs.
The expansion will also add berths capable of accommodating ultra-large container vessels of 24,000 TEUs. The project includes new container cranes and storage yards outside Isla Verde in Algeciras Port,
as well as the construction of a new rail network.

HMM explained that this investment is part of new CEO Choi Wonhyok’s effort to strengthen HMM’s global infrastructure strategy. Since assuming the CEO role in March,
he had previously led South Korean logistics company LX Pantos in making infrastructure investment a core part of its development strategy.

Choi Wonhyok noted that although HMM operates eight terminals globally, the company also sees opportunities to participate in the tender for Tecon Santos10,
the largest container terminal in Brazil’s Port of Santos.

Analysts believe that in recent years, leading international shipping companies have shown a strong preference for port investments, which has become a clear trend in the global shipping industry.
Especially after the “super-boom” in container shipping during the pandemic, cash-rich shipping companies have been actively strengthening port-vessel synergies to enhance operational efficiency.


The Port of Algeciras is Spain’s largest port and serves as a hub connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. After Hanjin Shipping’s bankruptcy in 2017,
HMM acquired the Algeciras terminal operated by Total Terminal International Algeciras (TTIA). In 2020, French carrier CMA CGM acquired a 50% stake in TTIA, but HMM still retains control.

The expansion project will be carried out in phases to minimize disruption to port operations. The Port Authority of Algeciras Bay is committed to upgrading the terminal, and its chairman,
Gerardo Landaluce, admitted they met with HMM’s management team in Seoul to discuss the terminal’s expansion.

HMM stated that it is currently reviewing potential investment plans for the Algeciras terminal, and no final decision has yet been made.

Information source:台灣新生報航運版20250703