19:34 5 March 2025
Gdynia container terminal may change ownership amid Panama Canal deal
As part of a major port acquisition, BlackRock and MSC are set to purchase Panama Ports Company from Hong Kong-based Hutchison for $22.8 billion, gaining control of 90% of Panama’s key ports, Balboa and Cristobal. The U.S. has long opposed Chinese ownership due to security concerns over military shipments to Poland and Ukraine.
The deal also includes 80% ownership in 43 global ports, including Gdynia Container Terminal (GCT), a major Baltic container hub. In 2023, GCT handled 975,000 TEU, contributing to Poland’s 3.37 million TEU total. The U.S. raised concerns over Hutchison’s ownership, as GCT holds land ownership rights rather than leasing from the government.
GCT's proximity to defense cargo operations further heightened scrutiny, especially after denying access to a U.S. military vessel in 2023.
(pb.pl)
