Speaking at the company’s AGM, Mr Lerenius said that plans announced in 2004 to invest more than £400m in ABP’s UK ports, under the group’s 10-year revenue-related capital investment programme, are firmly on track.

The group’s plans to achieve a target of £250m of non-core property and land sales are also proceeding well. The total amount sold since January 1, 2000 stands at £239.4m.