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AD Ports closes in on $2bn deal to buy Indonesia’s Meratus

Photo of Sam Chambers Sam ChambersNovember 22, 2023
9,488 1 minute read

Fast expanding AD Ports from Abu Dhabi is tipped to be finalising a deal to buy Indonesia’s top container shipping line, Meratus, in a deal thought to be worth $2bn. The family-held Meratus has been up for sale since July.

According to Alphaliner, Surabaya-based Meratus runs a container fleet of more than 60 vessels between 135 to 2,700 teu.

AD Ports has been rapidly expanding its footprint, becoming one of the leading ports and shipping players. The group has this year signed deals in Angola, Egypt, Congo and across Central Asia, as well as growing its tanker fleet and establishing a non-vessel owning common carrier with Dubai-listed logistics company Aramex.

Over the past year AD Ports has already acquired a range of containerlines including Global Feeder Shipping and Transmar.

“This is yet another example of the ongoing consolidation in the intra-Asian container shipping space and also an example of the ascendance of both AD Ports and DP World into the container shipping space,” commented Lars Jensen, founder of consultancy Vespucci Maritime, via LinkedIn, going on to predict more consolidation in Asia in the years ahead.

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Photo of Sam Chambers Sam ChambersNovember 22, 2023
9,488 1 minute read
Photo of Sam Chambers

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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