Peel Ports
Peel Ports Group is the UK's second-largest port operator, managing 8 strategic ports across the UK and Ireland that handle 70 million tonnes of cargo annually. It serves shipping lines, cargo owners, logistics providers, and property tenants through integrated terminal operations, warehousing, marine services, and its PortPlus+ service platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLiverpool, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Peel Ports does
Peel Ports Group Limited, founded in 2005 and headquartered at the Maritime Centre, Port of Liverpool, is the second-largest port operator in the United Kingdom with approximately 15% UK market share. The group manages a network of eight strategic ports across the UK and Ireland — Clydeport, Dublin, Port of East Anglia (Great Yarmouth), Heysham, Liverpool, London Medway, Manchester Ship Canal, and Humber Bulk Terminal — handling around 70 million tonnes of cargo annually. The company was formed around the 2005 acquisition of the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board and has since invested more than £1bn in infrastructure over the past decade, including the £400m Liverpool2 deep-water container terminal. Its wholly-owned subsidiaries include BG Freight Line (container logistics between Ireland, UK and continental Europe) and Peel Ports Logistics (acquired as Quality Freight UK in May 2019 and rebranded May 2021).
The company sells port-centric services through its PortPlus+ integrated suite of four modules: PortPlus+ Store (on-demand storage), PortPlus+ Move (handling and processing), PortPlus+ Process (end-to-end cargo movement), and PortPlus+ Develop (tailored customer solutions). Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based port charges (terminal handling, stevedoring, cargo processing, marine services including pilotage, towage and berth management) plus recurring revenue from commercial property rental at port-adjacent locations. Pricing is quote-based, not publicly disclosed, and billed on a pay-as-you-go cadence. Distribution is direct, sales-led, enterprise-focused, with no intermediary channels; the company markets through industry events, direct sales outreach, and strategic partnerships (notably E.ON for solar energy, Hydropol for hydropower, Exolum for energy transition support, and Peel Waters for regeneration).
Peel Ports serves four primary customer segments: shipping lines (container, bulk, RoRo), cargo owners (manufacturers, traders, retailers requiring import/export logistics), logistics providers (freight forwarders and intermodal operators), and property tenants leasing commercial space at port precincts. Named enterprise customers span BG Freight Line, Finsa UK, Cargill, ADM, ACL, NMT Shipping, Drax Group (with a dedicated £100m biomass terminal), CWT Commodities, B&M, Typhoo, Edge Worldwide, Collett & Sons, and Jenkins Group. The company has been recognized as the UK's safest port operator and was the second UK port to achieve ISO 45001 certification, and has set a Net Zero 2040 target with a 32% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions against a 2020 baseline already achieved.
Peel Ports firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Peel Ports
- Legal name
- Peel Ports Group Limited
- Website
- https://peelports.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Peel Ports Group is the UK's second-largest port operator, managing 8 strategic ports across the UK and Ireland that handle 70 million tonnes of cargo annually. It serves shipping lines, cargo owners, logistics providers, and property tenants through integrated terminal operations, warehousing, marine services, and its PortPlus+ service platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Peel Ports industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Port Operations and Terminal Services
- NAICS
- Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Terminal Cargo Handling & Yard Operations (Receiving, Staging, Delivery) (TLAHALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations) (TLAHALAE), Stevedoring & Vessel Loading/Discharging (Ship-to-Shore Operations) (TLAHALAA), Breakbulk & Project Cargo Handling (Heavy Lift, Out-of-Gauge Handling) (TLAHALAH), Port Call Clearance & Documentation (Arrival/Departure, Customs/Immigration/Health) (TLAHAJAA)
Keywords
Where Peel Ports is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Liverpool
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices10 records
Markets served
Peel Ports business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Port Terminal Operations: Terminal handling, stevedoring, and cargo processing services at multiple UK and Irish ports
- Logistics and Warehousing Services: Storage, distribution, and supply chain management services through PortPlus+ platform
- Marine Operations: Port marine services including pilotage, towage, and berth management
- Property and Tenant Services: Commercial property rental and tenant services at port locations
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing for port services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Peel Ports product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Peel Ports operates a network of eight strategically located ports across the UK and Ireland, providing terminal handling, stevedoring, cargo processing, warehousing, marine services, and integrated logistics solutions. The PortPlus+ suite bundles on-demand storage, handling and processing, end-to-end cargo movement, and tailored development services, while wholly-owned subsidiaries BG Freight Line and Peel Ports Logistics deliver door-to-door shipping and freight forwarding.
Product overview
Peel Ports Group is the UK's second largest port operator offering a portfolio of port-centric services through its PortPlus+ suite and network of eight strategic port locations. The core offering consists of PortPlus+ with four integrated modules: Store (on-demand storage), Move (handling and processing), Process (end-to-end cargo movement), and Develop (tailored solutions). The company operates major ports including Liverpool (home to the Liverpool2 deep-water container terminal), Clydeport, London Medway, Heysham, Dublin, Manchester Ship Canal, Port of East Anglia/Great Yarmouth, and Humber Bulk Terminal. Services span container handling, RoRo operations, bulk cargo, marine services, warehousing, and logistics solutions. The portfolio includes acquired brands Peel Ports Logistics (formerly Quality Freight UK) and BG Freight Line, enabling end-to-end supply chain services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PortPlus+: Integrated port services offering storage (PortPlus+ Store), handling and processing (PortPlus+ Move, PortPlus+ Process), and tailored development solutions (PortPlus+ Develop).
- Liverpool2
- BG Freight Line
Products and services
- PortPlus+ Integrated port-centric services suite providing end-to-end cargo handling solutions at every touchpoint of the supply chain. Bundles four modules: PortPlus+ Store (safe, flexible, on-demand storage), PortPlus+ Move (added value handling and processing solutions), PortPlus+ Process (end-to-end cargo movement services), and PortPlus+ Develop (cost-efficient solutions tailored to specific customer needs). Designed for shipping lines, cargo owners, and logistics providers across the Peel Ports network.
- Liverpool2 Container Terminal Deep-water container terminal at the Port of Liverpool, part of a £400m investment enabling the port to handle the largest ships in the world. Features five ship-to-shore cranes and twelve cantilever rail mounted gantry cranes. Provides deep-sea container handling capability for global shipping lines.
- Port of Liverpool UK's only west-facing deep-sea container terminal handling containers, biomass, RoRo, and dry bulks. Offers automotive logistics, port-centric warehousing, SOLAS container weighing, and terminal operating system services. Hosts the Liverpool2 deep-water terminal, steel and metals terminal, Drax biomass import terminal, and Queen Elizabeth II Dock facilities.
- Clydeport Scotland's gateway to the world operating as harbour authority for 450 square miles of the River Clyde. Offers container depot services, container shipping and logistics, cruise services, marine services, multi-user warehousing, offshore solutions, port security, property, and rail. Operations include Greenock and the Inchgreen Dry Dock.
- London Medway Port located near London, serving as gateway to the capital, South East England, and the Midlands. Handles paper and RDF (Refuse-Derived Fuel) products, with 75,000m2 of warehouse space and capability to handle over 500,000 tonnes of paper annually.
- Heysham Port Distribution hub serving the Isle of Man, Ireland, and mainland UK with unrestricted access to the Irish Sea. Offers autogate and stevedoring services. Operates RoRo services connecting UK, Ireland, and Isle of Man markets.
- Port of Dublin Ireland's premier container terminal handling an average throughput of 170,000 TEUs per year, helping clients manage efficient supply chains. Operated via Marine Terminals Limited (Dublin), wholly-owned subsidiary of Peel Ports Group.
- Manchester Ship Canal Innovative carbon-efficient waterway ideally placed to service the densely populated north of England. Provides inland water transport solutions connecting Manchester to the Irish Sea and global shipping routes.
- Port of East Anglia / Great Yarmouth Strategically located to serve the oil and gas fields of the southern North Sea, offering the shortest crossing between Britain and continental Europe. Supports offshore wind farm development and energy sector operations with over £10M invested to support growth and jobs.
- Humber Bulk Terminal State-of-the-art facility equipped with modern handling equipment and technology for safely and efficiently handling large volumes of bulk cargo. Provides bulk cargo handling services for industrial and commodity customers.
- Peel Ports Logistics Freight forwarding and logistics services integrated with Peel Ports port operations. Provides chartering and port services operating from a 40-acre multi-modal facility in Ellesmere Port. Offers freight forwarding and logistics services seamlessly integrated with Peel Ports port operations, acquired from Quality Freight UK in May 2019 and rebranded in May 2021.
- BG Freight Line Wholly-owned Peel Ports subsidiary providing comprehensive logistics services to and from Ireland, the UK, and continental Europe including door-to-door shipping, feedering, and quay-to-quay shipping for containerised cargo. Provides shipping services between Dublin and Liverpool and broader Irish Sea routes.
- Port of Liverpool Steel and Metals Terminal Specialist terminal handling steel and metals cargo with heavy lift capabilities and dedicated services for the metals industry. Subject to £100m investment to expand the national steel and metals multimodal hub and achieved ISO 45001 certification.
- Drax Biomass Import Terminal £100 million custom-built biomass import terminal at Gladstone Dock, Liverpool, supporting Drax Power Station's conversion to biomass-fueled electricity generation. Achieved ISO 45001 certification.
- Queen Elizabeth II Dock at Eastham Port facility featuring hydropower generation using twin Archimedean screw generator, powering the site's Green Automotive Hub and supporting net-zero ambitions. Site hosts the Hydropol hydropower project generating approximately 1.5 million kWh of renewable energy annually.
- Marine Services Marine operations spanning Port of Liverpool, London Medway, Clydeport, Port of East Anglia, Heysham, Manchester Ship Canal, and Port of Dublin. Includes pilotage, towage, berth management, and marine environment services for vessel operators across the Peel Ports network.
Quantifiable outcome
- 70 million tonnes of cargo handled annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Peel Ports
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Peel Ports technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Peel Ports partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- E.ONcorePartnership for renewable energy infrastructure development. E.ON installed a 25MW rooftop solar installation at Alexandra Dock, supporting Peel Ports' Net Zero 2040 target and sustainability objectives.
- HydropolcoreHydropower project partnership at QEII Dock in Eastham, generating approximately 1.5 million kWh of renewable energy annually. Supports the company's sustainability and decarbonization efforts.
- ExolumcorePartnership focused on energy transition support, helping Peel Ports navigate the transition to cleaner energy sources and sustainable port operations.
- Peel WaterscoreRegeneration partnership for major development initiatives at Wirral Waters and North Docks. Collaborative effort on port-adjacent property development and urban regeneration projects.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Peel Ports competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Associated British Ports (ABP): The UK's largest port operator, running 21 ports across England, Scotland, and Wales. Directly comparable to Peel Ports as the other major UK-wide port group competing for the same shipping lines, cargo owners, and inland logistics customers.
- Forth Ports: UK/Scotland-based port operator owning Tilbury (largest UK port by tonnage) and several Scottish facilities. Comparable as a multi-port UK operator with mixed bulk, container, and ro-ro exposure, competing with Peel Ports' Clydeport and Tilbury-region flows.
- PD Ports: UK port and logistics operator based in Teesside handling containers, bulk, and project cargo with associated warehousing. Comparable as a regional UK port operator with integrated terminal and warehousing services competing for similar cargo owners.
- Irish Continental Group: Irish ferry and container operator providing ro-ro and lift-on/lift-off services on Irish Sea and Ireland-UK-Continental Europe routes. Directly comparable as an Irish port/shipping operator overlapping Peel Ports' Dublin, BG Freight Line, and Irish Sea activities.
Broad incumbents
- DP World: Global port operator (part of Dubai-based DP World) operating London Gateway, one of the UK's largest deep-water container terminals. Comparable as a major UK port operator with deep-pocketed global backing and modern infrastructure competing for the same container customers.
- Hutchison Ports: CK Hutchison's global port arm operating Felixstowe and Harwich in the UK, plus Thamesport. Comparable as a UK container terminal operator within a much larger global port network, competing for deep-sea container volumes.
- PSA International: One of the world's largest container terminal operators, state-owned by Singapore's Temasek. Comparable as a deep-pocketed global terminal operator whose investments in European ports (e.g., Belgium, via partnerships) compete for the same shipping line customers that call UK ports.
Others
- Stena Line: One of the world's largest ferry operators running Irish Sea routes including Heysham (a Peel Ports location). Comparable as a shipping customer/operator whose volumes directly drive Peel Ports' RoRo and Irish Sea terminal throughput.
- Port of Rotterdam Authority: Europe's largest port authority managing container, bulk, and breakbulk cargo with significant UK/Irish feeder trade. Comparable as a benchmark European port operator and as a key transshipment hub feeding Peel Ports' deep-sea container volumes.
Regional players
- Eurogate: German container terminal operator with facilities in Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and other European ports. Comparable as a European-focused container terminal operator serving the same shipping line customers, though not directly competing on UK quayside.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Peel Ports social profiles
Digital presencePeel Ports compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Peel Ports financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Peel Ports leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
Peel Ports subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Peel Ports funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Peel Ports M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Peel Ports
What does Peel Ports do?
Peel Ports operates a network of eight strategically located ports across the UK and Ireland, providing terminal handling, stevedoring, cargo processing, warehousing, marine services, and integrated logistics solutions. The PortPlus+ suite bundles on-demand storage, handling and processing, end-to-end cargo movement, and tailored development services, while wholly-owned subsidiaries BG Freight Line and Peel Ports Logistics deliver door-to-door shipping and freight forwarding.
Is Peel Ports a public or private company?
Peel Ports is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Peel Ports founded?
Peel Ports was founded in 2005. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Peel Ports based?
Peel Ports is headquartered in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Peel Ports make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Port Terminal Operations are the primary driver. The others are logistics and Warehousing Services, marine Operations and property and Tenant Services.
Who are Peel Ports's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Associated British Ports (ABP), Forth Ports, PD Ports and Irish Continental Group. Broad incumbents are DP World, Hutchison Ports and PSA International. Others are Stena Line and Port of Rotterdam Authority. Eurogate is listed as a regional player.
Does Peel Ports have an API?
No public API is recorded for Peel Ports.
What industry is Peel Ports in?
Peel Ports's product category is Port Operations and Terminal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAHALAB, Terminal Cargo Handling & Yard Operations (Receiving, Staging, Delivery), with a secondary code of TLAHALAE, Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations). Its NAICS code is 488320 and its SIC code is 4400.