DP World’s overseas logistics investments cross over $10b

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

DP World has invested more than $10 billion (Dhs37.3 billion) in the global logistics sector since 2012, making it one of the top five overseas investors in this period, according to the latest foreign direct investment (FDI) data released by leading industry consultants.

The FT’s FDI Intelligence recently published its top five list for 2022, which ranks DP World fifth in the world by total value of direct investments allocated to the overseas logistics services sector.

DP World’s investments over the past year totalled $320 million (Dhs1.18 billion) despite demand for logistics services stalling as the global economy slowed. 2023 forecasts expect single-digit demand growth in the industry.

Other firms in the top five include US giant Amazon and AP Moller Maersk from Denmark. DP World is the only firm in the top five based outside of the US or Europe.  

Commenting on the ranking, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “The data shared by FDI Intelligence demonstrates where we stand globally within the logistics sector, not only in the last year but consistently over the last 10 years. DP World’s companies touch people’s lives around the world every day. Sometimes it is tangible, and sometimes we are in the background making sure people and businesses get the goods they require. Our infrastructure opens untapped trade opportunities, grows economies and makes goods more affordable. Investing in developing economies helps trade go further, facilitates economic growth, attracts foreign investment and generates thousands of jobs – raising the quality of life for everyone.”

The latest “Trade in Transition” study in January, commissioned by DP World and led by Economist Impact, revealed the emergence of major shifts in globalisation, as companies rushed to move manufacturing closer to home to protect against supply chain disruptions while increasingly protectionist policies are breaking the world into trade blocs. Its key finding is that 96% of companies are making changes to their supply chains due to geopolitical events.

One of the company’s key priorities in 2022 was to broaden its partnerships to unlock this trade potential. DP World enhanced its relationship with India’s National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF) to raise approximately $300 million (Dhs1.1 billion) and created a new investment platform with the British International Investment Group to accelerate investment in Africa.  

The continent has been a key focus area, with the development of the Port of Ndayane, Senegal, representing the beginning of a $1 billion investment. This is DP World’s largest port investment in Africa and the largest single private investment in the history of Senegal. The nearby Dakar port is credited with a 10% uplift in Senegal’s GDP growth, so the new port will reinforce Senegal’s position as a trade hub in West Africa and further its development through the next century.

Plans are also progressing to expand the capabilities of operations in Caucedo, Dominican Republic while the Callao Port expansion in Peru will create one of the single biggest terminals in South America once it is completed later this year.

The UK has been another key destination for investment. Over the last decade, DP World has invested £2 billion (AED 8.99 billion) in the UK, supporting thousands of jobs. For the next 10 years, the logistics provider has earmarked a further £1 billion of investment, with a £350m new fourth berth at London Gateway now well under construction.

In Romania, DP World is also building new infrastructure at the Port of Constanta – including a new roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) terminal -- to turn it into one of the most critical cargo and vehicle hubs on the Black Sea, a key gateway for trade into Eastern Europe.

Global logistics provider has invested £2 billion in the UK, and earmarked another £1 billion for the next 10 years

DP World is an Emirati multinational logistics company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It specialises in cargo logistics, port terminal operations, maritime services and free trade zones. Formed in 2005 by the merger of Dubai Ports Authority and Dubai Ports International, DP World handles 70 million containers that are brought in by around 70,000 vessels annually. This equates to roughly 10% of global container traffic accounted for by their 82 marine and inland terminals present in over 40 countries. Until 2016, DP World was primarily a global ports operator, and since then it has acquired other companies up and down the value chain.

Dubai Ports International (DPI) was founded in 1999.[4] Its first project was at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, collaborating with a local partner on the management and operation of the South Container Terminal (SCT). DPI then went on to develop operations at the ports of Djibouti in 2000, Vizag, India in 2002 and Constanta, Romania in 2003.

In January 2005, DPI acquired CSX World Terminals (CSX WT. It was later, in September 2005 that Dubai Ports International officially merged with the Dubai Ports Authority to form DP World.[6] The rapid expansion through acquisition continued in March 2006 when DP World purchased the fourth largest ports operator in the world, P&O for £3.9 billion.