CMA CGM nears deal for New York, New Jersey container terminals

CMA CGM has agreed to buy two major US shipping terminals owned by Global Container Terminals to bolster the French logistics company’s presence in the country.

The acquisition gives CMA CGM a gateway on the US east coast and strengthens its position as global port terminal operator, the company said on Wednesday (Dec 7), confirming an earlier Bloomberg News report. Financial details for the transaction to buy the terminals in the state of New York and New Jersey weren’t disclosed. 

The sale of the two container terminals could fetch around US$3 billion for Global Container Terminals’ owners Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, IFM Investors and British Columbia Investment Management, Bloomberg News reported in October.  

The deal “is a strategic investment,” chief executive officer Rodolphe Saade said in a statement. “It reinforces the services we provide to US customers and their supply chain efficiency.”

CMA CGM has built out its position in the US in recent years to grow in one of the world’s biggest economic regions. Last November, it agreed to buy the rest of Fenix Marine Services, which operates a container terminal in the Port of Los Angeles, after owning a minority stake. Last month, the company said former Ports America executive Peter Levesque would succeed Ed Aldridge as president of CMA CGM America. 

The Port of New York and New Jersey is a key entry point serving the northeastern US supply chain areas and represents CMA CGM’s largest gateway on the US east and gulf coasts, according to the statement. The Bayonne and New York terminals have an existing combined capacity of 2 million TEUs – a measure for container handling capacity – per year and potential for further expansion, CMA CGM said.

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Bayonne terminal has the highest level of automation and the fastest truck turn time in the harbor, CMA CGM said.  BLOOMBERG