The Chinese terminal operator Cosco Shipping Ports handled significantly more containers in the third quarter of this year. Overseas business, in particular, grew strongly. Turnover and profit also showed a positive trend.
The Chinese port and terminal operator Cosco Shipping Ports handled a total of 42.27 million TEU in the third quarter of 2026. This represents an increase of 8.4 per cent compared with the same period last year. The international terminal business performed particularly well, recording growth of 19.4%.
Group turnover rose by 13 per cent to $484.3 million between July and September. Gross profit rose by 19.3% to $128.1 million. Profit attributable to shareholders remained virtually unchanged at $82.6 million, representing an increase of 0.1%.
In the first nine months of the year, total container throughput reached 122.42 million TEU, an increase of 8.1%. Revenue rose by 12.6% to $1.39 billion, whilst profit attributable to shareholders increased by 19.7% to $316.3 million.
Overseas terminals grow by almost 20%
The international terminals were the main drivers of growth. Outside China, Cosco Shipping Ports handled 11.32 million TEU in the third quarter, 19.4% more than in the previous year. This meant that overseas terminals accounted for 26.8% of total container throughput.
At the Greek port of Piraeus, the handling volume at the Piraeus Container Terminal rose by 11.4 per cent to 1.09 million TEU. The Peruvian port of Chancay recorded growth of 24.9%, with 139,669 TEU. According to the company, the route network there was expanded to three main routes and five feeder services.
At the Chinese terminals, throughput increased by 4.9% to 30.94 million TEU. The port regions in the Pearl River Delta and on the south-east coast, in particular, recorded significant growth of 7.6% each. In the Yangtze Delta, by contrast, volume fell slightly by 0.3%.
Cosco Shipping Ports is focusing on further expansion
Despite geopolitical uncertainties and shifting trade flows, the company sees further growth opportunities in the coming months. Cosco Shipping Ports intends to strengthen its position in strategically important port locations.
Plans include acquiring majority stakes in major transhipment centres as well as further stakes in key gateway ports. The company also intends to capitalise on the potential recovery in shipping traffic through the Suez Canal to strengthen terminals along the route.
In addition, the group is focusing on the further automation of terminal operations, the use of artificial intelligence, and the expansion of clean energy technologies and green fuel supply chains.
Cosco Shipping Ports currently manages 395 berths in 40 ports worldwide. Of these, 245 were designated for container handling.
