Hutchison Ports announced at its 50th anniversary cocktail reception that it has achieved a cumulative global throughput of 1∙3 billion TEU – the world's first operator to have achieved such milestone. If those containers were to be lined up end-to-end, they would go around the earth almost 200 times.

Attending the event was Frank Chan, secretary for the Transport and Housing Bureau of the HKSAR Government, who officiated at the ceremony together with the management team of Hutchison Ports. “Today, over 90%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. 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 10 busiest container ports in the world. Hutchison Ports plays a vital role in facilitating Hong Kong as well as global container trade and has contributed to the growth of Hong Kong as a global trading centre.”

Hutchison Ports celebrates its 50th anniversary in Hong Kong.

Speaking at the ceremony, Eric Ip, group managing director of Hutchison Ports, said: “Our story begins here in Hong Kong with a single berth, and Hong Kong remains the key hub for our global operations – our home base for grooming talent based here and overseas. Over the last 50 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.”

As the largest Hong Kong-based ports and logistics company, with a workforce of more than 30,000 people worldwide, Hutchison Ports operates in 51 ports across 26 countries and handles 11% of global marine cargo trade, meaning one in nine containers shipped around the world has gone through one of its ports.