South East Development Corporation with joint venture partners is said to be preparing a bid.
Other prospective buyers, according to the Sunday Times’ City sources, are reported to be Peel Ports with overseas pension and infrastructure funds and the Australian Investment giant Macquarie.
Associated British Ports and DP World, the Dubai owner of London Gateway Port and P&O Ferries are also among those “understood to have been approached” to consider a purchase.
PD Ports operates out of 11 locations around the UK and describes itself on its website as “a trusted partner for the UK’s leading forest products suppliers”.
“Whether it’s timber, paper or pulp, our locations have the capability to handle cargo in containers, bulk cargo or by Ro-Ro, before storing and securely forwarding on to its end destination,” it states.
It describes Groveport, one of its Humber cluster, as being one of the major East Coast import destinations for timber.
“Teesport offers similar benefits, being ideally placed to serve both the north of England and Scottish markets,” says PD Ports. “It has one of the deepest general-purpose quays in the UK and lock-free access to the North Sea providing an ideal location for the import and export of dry bulk cargo.”
The Sunday Times said all parties involved declined to comment.
