DP World has reached a significant milestone by exceeding 100 million TEUs in container handling capacity across its global portfolio.

"This is a testament to over US$11 billion in strategic investments and infrastructure development over the last decade," the multinational logistics company said.

Over the past 10 years, DP World's capacity has grown 33%, driven primarily by expansions and new greenfield developments as well as acquisitions.

It noted that starting with 75.6 million TEUs in 2014, the company has invested in modernising infrastructure to meet the demands of an evolving global supply chain.

DP World said in the announcement that its global gross container handling capacity rose by 5% in the last 12 months — cementing DP World's 9.2% share of the global container market.

"Crossing the 100 million TEU mark is a momentous milestone in our journey, which began 45 years ago. This achievement reflects our commitment to investing in world-class ports and logistics infrastructure to make trade flow. We are confident that the global container market will continue to grow in the years ahead and we will have the capacity to service it," said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairman and chief executive of DP World.

"Through our decades of experience operating in some of the most dynamic markets in the world, we have gained a deep understanding of every aspect of the complex global supply chain. This allows us to build customised solutions where others can only see obstacles," he added.

 [Source: DP World]

Tiemen Meester, COO, of Ports & Terminals, DP World, also welcomed the milestone for DP World and its impact on global trade flows.

"Reaching such an impressive milestone is significant for us, but it's what that figure represents in terms of the flow of global trade and what it has enabled in the markets we have invested in that is really exciting," he said.

"Over the last 20 years, we have invested in ports and terminals across the world, often in less traditional and underdeveloped trade markets, where our socio-economic impact has been significant," Meester added.

One such investment is DP World's takeover of the Dar es Salaam facility in Tanzania in 2024, which has not been developed since the 1950s. He noted that vessel waiting times there take sometimes "more than a month."

"Our work there in the last six months has almost eradicated that issue and the future looks a lot brighter for Tanzanian trade," Meester said.

Meanwhile, this year also marks significant anniversaries, including 45 years of Jebel Ali Port, and 40 years of the Jebel Ali Freezone.

Among DP World's growth drivers are its London Gateway investment, expansion at the Port of Callao in Peru, investments at the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) in Cochin, India, and investment in Constanta/Aiud in Romania.

DP World also added Belawan New Container Terminal (BNCT) in Indonesia to its portfolio, as well as the merger of DP World Yarimca and Evyapport in Türkiye, the Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 30-year concession to operate and modernize the multi-purpose Dar es Salaam Port, and DP World and Malaysia's Sabah Ports partnership to manage Sapangar Bay Container Port (SBCP) in, Malaysia.

Looking ahead, DP World is also adding further capacity with new port construction projects such as the development of a new deep-water port at Ndayane in Senegal, container terminal expansion works at the Port of Maputo in Mozambique, construction of a new US$510 million terminal at Tuna-Tekra in India, and a 30-year concession to develop and manage a deep-sea port in  Banana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

These investments come as global container throughput is expected to grow by 2.8% this year, according to Drewry Container Forecaster.