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Growing global trade opportunities, diversifying its business across the supply chain and exploring smart innovation technologies were key strands of DP World’s operations in 2017 which included over USD 1 billion in capital expenditure year to date.
A series of acquisitions, technology tie-ups and sustainable business achievements all formed part of the activities that saw the global trade enabler expand its business horizons across the world.
The expansion at Prince Rupert in Canada opened for business, DP World Limassol in Cyprus opened a new cruise terminal, work began on a new logistics centre in Kigali (Rwanda) and at a new terminal project in Posorja (Ecuador). Also in the Americas DP World took 100% ownership of Embraport in Brazil. In Asia Pacific we have seen the consolidation of Pusan (South Korea), while in Africa we started officially operating DP World Berbera port (Somaliland) under a 30-year concession.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: “The recovery of global trade in 2017 has been stronger than expected and we are pleased to have outperformed market growth once again. We are on course to deliver approximately 10.0% growth in gross volumes for 2017, and look forward to continued growth in 2018.”
“Notable landmarks included strengthening our partnerships in Brazil, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Somaliland, India, Egypt and Mali with a range of infrastructure investments to enable global trade and connect countries to international markets. This was coupled with a series of acquisitions such as the inclusion of Dubai Maritime City and Drydocks World to the Group’s operations, expanding our service offering to customers. We have also stepped up container handling productivity at our flagship Jebel Ali Port, by adding 1.5 million TEU to Container Terminal 3 (T3).
“Our activities aimed at providing added value to our customers at further points in the global supply chain by growing our logistics, industrial parks and freezone operations and smart digital trade solutions. We have also ensured our sustainable business practices have progressed, joining the United Nations Logistics Emergency Teams (LET) partnership to support humanitarian disaster relief; supporting the development of Hyperloop technologies that could revolutionise the movement of goods across continents and winning the coveted Dubai Quality Award, evidence of our ongoing commitment to excellence in everything we do.”
Mr. Bin Sulayem added: “All of this happened to a backdrop of continued revenue growth, proof that we have a robust portfolio of businesses and a successful strategy to ensure the sustainable growth of our company.”
As 2017 unfolded, some of DP World’s headlines included:
January:
DP World will provide pro bono expertise and resources to help the humanitarian community respond to major disasters after joining leading logistics and transport companies to become part of the Logistics Emergency Teams (LET). The global trade enabler will team up with the initial LET partners Agility, Maersk and UPS, and will be called on by the Logistics Cluster, led by the United Nations’ World Food Programme to support immediate relief efforts in the aftermath of major natural disasters such as earthquakes, storms and floods.
February:
DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk discussed potential uses of Tesla technology for DP World’s global operations in a meeting at the World Government Summit in Dubai. Topics revolved around the use of Tesla battery solutions for renewable energy storage in the global trade enabler’s ports and terminals in the fast-growing markets of Africa, India and Latin America.
March:
Global container shipping consortium ‘THE Alliance’ has announced that all of its mainline UK calls will be handled by DP World, the Dubai-based global ports and logistics services company. The consortium of container shipping lines – which comprises Hapag Lloyd, K-Line, MOL, NYK Line and Yang Ming – will bring vessels on its FE1, FE2 and FE4 services into DP World Southampton and those on FE3 and FE5 into DP World London Gateway, all of which link Asia and Europe.
April:
The first ever UK to China export train departed on Monday, April 10, laden with containers full of British goods. The train made the 7,500 mile, three-week-long journey, departing from DP World London Gateway’s state-of-the-art rail terminal in South Essex, bound for Yiwu in the Zhe Jiang province in eastern China.
May:
Global trade enabler DP World has won the Dubai Quality Award in recognition of sustained business excellence and best practice at an awards ceremony hosted by the Department of Economic Development (DED) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The award employs a detailed framework requiring companies to benchmark performance against international standards, documenting their achievements as part of a model for organisational excellence.
Global trade enabler DP World and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop the logistics sector in India. The agreement comes as a result of the visit to India in February 2016 of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman and CEO.
Global trade enabler DP World has celebrated its 30-year port concession for the management and development of a multi-purpose port project at Berbera, Republic of Somaliland which started on 2 March 2017.
June:
DP World fully owned subsidiary, P&O Maritime announces its acquisition of Reyser (Remolquesy Servicios Maritimos, S.L.) a Spanish company providing maritime services internationally since 1966, from Bergé y Cía, S.A.
Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU’s) were signed between global trade enabler DP World and the Kazakhstan government for the development of a Port Community System (PCS) and to integrate customs processes ahead of the Astana Economic Forum.
July:
A new modern terminal to accommodate the largest operating cruise vessels opened at DP World Limassol port. The new terminal consists of seven pods with an internal area of 7,000 square meters. Along with 24-hour availability the terminal offers integrated services including Home Call and Day Call handling capability, ensuring an improved customer experience.
DP World’s Global Education Programme has won Gold for Best Evaluation at the UK’s Corporate Engagement Awards, recognising the global trade enabler’s measurement of the initiative to ensure maximum impact. Launched in 2016, the programme involves employees delivering lessons in local schools across its network around the world to boost the skills, aspirations and confidence of young people by teaching them about trade, logistics and the maritime sector and related career opportunities.
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