Ghana’s Takoradi Port Receives Largest Bulker as Manganese Exports Surge

Takoradi Harbor (Banku / CC BY SA 3.0)

Published Jan 18, 2026 11:45 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

The dry bulk shipping market in West Africa continues to see massive transformation, as China’s appetite for minerals from the region surge. In the last few years, capsize and above loadings in West Africa have maintained a double-digit growth. In a market report last year, the investment bank Jefferies estimated that West Africa now represents 14 percent of Capesize liftings compared to six percent four years ago.

This momentum is likely to be sustained in 2026, buoyed by uptick of exports from the Guinea’s Simandou iron ore project. The first shipment of nearly 200,000 metric tons of iron ore from Simandou arrived in Majishan port in East China on Saturday. A second shipment left Guinea in late December, which is part of the planned 120 million tons’ yearly production in Simandou.

Again, Ghana has signaled increase for its manganese exports to China this year. The move will see the country for the first time in history receive an ultra-capsize bulk carrier. Last week, Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) said that the 300,000 DWT bulk carrier MV CBS Years is set to arrive at the Port of Takoradi on January 27.

The deployment of the vessel to Takoradi also involves other partners including Cosco Shipping Lines and the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority (GPHA). A welcome ceremony will be held next week commemorating berthing of the largest bulk carrier in West African waters. In preparation for the arrival, some members of GPHA’s marine operations team, including marine pilots, have been sent to China for advanced simulation in berthing capsize vessels.

“MV CBS Years’ call at Takoradi marks a significant business turning point for the GMC, in line with the company’s 10 million tons export target in 2026,” said Kofi Gyetsua Ankuma, GMC Administrative Superintendent. Ghana has almost doubled its manganese export target, with production in 2024 hitting five million tons. This has seen the country retain its third position as Africa’s largest manganese producer after Gabon and South Africa.

GMC has also partnered with China’s Tianyuan Manganese Industry (TMI) to build Ghana’s first national manganese refinery. The project is budgeted to cost $450 million, although it has been facing delays since 2024.

London Gateway Posts Strong Growth and Is Poised to Be UK’s Largest Port

DP World's London Gateway topped 3 million TEU and is poised to claim the top spot in the UK (DP World)

Published Jan 19, 2026 5:52 PM by The Maritime Executive

DP World’s London Gateway Port, located on the Thames, reported strong growth in 2025 as it continues to expand its operations. The Times (London) asserts that the terminal, which has been in operation for a little more than a decade, is on track to claim the top spot in the UK, and become the largest UK container port.

Today’s announcement of year-end data highlights that London Gateway port achieved a more than 52 percent growth in its container throughput in 2025, reaching more than 3 million TEU. The Times points out that Hutchison’s Felixstowe container port does not release data, but it speculates the port has slipped from its public assertion of more than 4 million TEU annual down to around the 3.6 million TEU the port was believed to have handled in 2024.

The achievement is especially notable as London Gateway only started operations in November 2013. It was an effort launched by the former P&O Group to revive the Port of London, which had been in a long decline with the death of breakbulk cargo, replaced by containers. Felixstowe had opened its first container terminal in 1967-1968 and saw rapid growth through the 1970s to the 1990s. Its last major expansion opened a decade ago in 2015.

Driving in part London Gateway’s rapid growth was the addition of a fourth berth. The port was also successful in wooing the newly launched Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to base UK operations in London instead of Felixstowe. The port also opened its second rail terminal in 2025.

DP World highlights that construction is underway on two all-electric berths for London Gateway as part of a further £1 billion investment. In addition to expanding to six berths, DP World highlights that it will be spending a further £170 million over the next two years for the construction of a new BOXBAY container handling system. They call it an intelligent High Bay Storage (HBS) system that increases efficiency by eliminating the need to reshuffle boxes while also increasing capacity.

The company highlights that its total UK operations topped 5 million TEU in 2025 when factoring in the more than 2 million TEU throughput handled at Southampton. It points out that it now has more than half the total UK market, which is estimated at just over 9 million TEU.

The Times highlights that London Gateway is likely “stealing” market share from Felixstowe as it shifts the center of the container import-export trade to London. The paper also reports that the UK’s giant grocery and general merchandiser TESCO is set to become one of the biggest tenants at London Gateway.

The company also highlights the strength of the transshipment operations. With the addition of the Gemini vessels, London has become a gateway for vessels arriving from Asia. 

While DP World’s focus remains on the strong growth at London Gateway, the company highlights that it is also making large investments in DP World Southampton. As part of a £60 million investment, the operation in Southampton is scheduled to receive the first of its new quay cranes later this year. DP World says it will form the tallest quay crane fleet in Europe as it moves to futureproof the operations at Southampton.

AD Ports Buys Spanish Shipyard Astilleros Balenciaga

AD Ports is expanding tis shipbuilding capabilities acquiring a Spanish shipyard specializing in the offshore energy sector (Astilleros Balenciaga Shipyard)

Published Jan 20, 2026 8:38 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Abu Dhabi-based AD Ports acquired a Spanish shipyard as part of its effort to expand in the Mediterranean and serve the offshore operations sector. The reports indicate that it paid €11.2 million ($13.1 million) for 100 percent ownership of Astilleros Balenciaga, based on the northern coast of Spain near Bilbao.

The shipyard, which traces its origins to 1921, will now be known as Balenciaga Shipyard. AD Ports acquired the yard for its Safeen Drydocks subsidiary, which is part of its Noatum Maritime group. The yard has both shipbuilding and repair facilities.

For AD Ports, the acquisition is an opportunity to further expand its presence in the offshore services sector and specifically offshore wind. The company recently announced a partnership with Masdar, the state-owned renewable energy company that is investing in the European offshore wind sector. Safeen will develop and deliver offshore wind projects for the partnership with Masdar.

Safeen Drydocks was launched in June 2023 as a joint venture 51 percent owned by AD Ports and working with Premier Marine Engineering Services, which was developing a shipyard at the Khalifa Port. It is a 45,000 square meter facility with a 350-meter (1,150-foot) berth for vessel repairs. The yard also has a floating dry dock.

The Balenciaga Shipyard has two dry docks, a 105-meter slipway, and a fabrication factory, as well as a cutting plant. The company recently invested in an expansion of its facilities.

The Spanish shipyard works with tug boats, offshore support vessels, fishing vessels, cargo vessels, and product carriers. Safeen highlights its capabilities in structural prefabrication of large modules for offshore projects, which it looks to leverage to further develop its presence in the offshore market. The shipyard is one of the few yards in Spain specializing in the construction of Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) as well as research vessels, offshore support vessels, and specialized tugs.

AD Ports Group highlights that it will further consolidate its operations in Spain and the Mediterranean region.