Global shipping heavyweight A.P. Moller-Maersk is tightening its grip on the Red Sea trade lanes.
Its ports subsidiary, APM Terminals, has struck an agreement to acquire a 37.5% stake in the South Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port — a facility currently operated in full by Dubai-based logistics powerhouse DP World.
Under the arrangement, DP World will retain a controlling 62.5% share and continue steering day-to-day operations. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
The terminal sits at a strategic crossroads of global commerce. Since securing a 30-year concession in 2019, DP World has poured nearly SAR 3 billion (around $800 million) into expanding and modernizing the site, more than doubling its capacity and transforming it into a key artery for container flows linking Asia, Europe and Africa.
Now, with Maersk’s vast ocean network aligning more closely with DP World’s port management muscle, the deal knits together two giants of global trade infrastructure. The partnership is expected to sharpen Jeddah’s competitive edge as Saudi Arabia pushes to cement its status as a logistics and maritime hub bridging continents.
In a joint statement, the companies described the investment as a natural extension of their long-standing cooperation, combining complementary strengths to elevate Jeddah’s role as a gateway for regional and international cargo.
