PD Ports

What PD Ports does

PD Ports is a UK-based port group providing integrated port and logistics services across 11 UK locations from Teesport and Hartlepool in the North to Thames and the Isle of Wight in the South. The company operates Teesport, England's largest export port by tonnage and the UK's sixth largest port overall, and serves as the Statutory Harbour Authority for the River Tees and Port of Hartlepool with jurisdiction over 12 miles to the Tees estuary. Its service portfolio spans stevedoring, portcentric logistics, contract logistics, warehousing, rail freight (including Trans Pennine to Manchester and jumbo services to Scotland), freight forwarding with customs clearance, shipping agency and chartering services, and the proposed Teesport Offshore Gateway for offshore wind manufacturing support. Primary customers include retailers (Tesco, Asda), chemicals producers (Venator, ICL), shipping lines (MSC, Ellerman, CLdN, Eimskip), distilleries, and renewable energy developers; the company cites £1.4bn annual contribution to the Teesside economy and ~22,000 jobs supported across the wider supply chain.

The company operates a B2B enterprise sales-led go-to-market with dedicated key account managers, business development managers, and commercial directors pursuing long-term contracts in manufacturing, bulk cargo, container shipping, and renewables. Revenue is generated through transaction-based port handling fees, managed logistics and contract services, and professional freight forwarding, with pricing negotiated per contract based on cargo type, volume, and service requirements. Long-dated anchors include a 10-year contract extension with global chemicals giant Venator and a 40-year lease with UK Docks Marine Services.

The proprietary technology stack centres on the Commtrac terminal operating system integrated with five fully automated weighbridges at Tees Dock and a system at Hartlepool (ANPR cameras, driver self-service terminals, automated traffic light controls) capable of processing up to 7,000 tonnes of bulk cargo per weighbridge per day. Capital programmes include a £14m crane investment comprising three Liebherr LPS 550 electric-hydraulic units with grabs that increased per-grab capacity from 7.5 to 17 cubic metres. Rail services are structured to remove up to 40 HGVs per train service from roads and reduce CO2 emissions by ~76% versus road haulage. Ownership is split between Brookfield Asset Management and Pontegadea Inversiones following Brookfield's July 2025 sale of a 49% stake.

Name

PD Ports

Legal name

PD Ports Limited

Website

https://pdports.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1852

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

PD Ports is a UK port group operating 11 locations including Teesport (the UK's sixth largest port and England's largest export port by tonnage), providing integrated stevedoring, warehousing, rail freight, freight forwarding, and shipping agency services to enterprise customers in retail, chemicals, shipping lines, and renewable energy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port and Logistics Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Port Operations Control Center / Port Call Orchestration (TLAHAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gateway Container Terminals (Import/Export) (TLAHAAAB), Stevedoring & Vessel Loading/Discharging (Ship-to-Shore Operations) (TLAHALAA), Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations) (TLAHALAE), Inland / River Container Terminals (Barge-Served) (TLAHAAAD), Feeder & Short-Sea Container Terminals (TLAHAAAC)

Keywords

• Port operations services
• Freight forwarding logistics
• Warehousing and distribution
• Rail freight services
• Supply chain management

Headquarters

HQ city

Middlesbrough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Port Operations: Core revenue from port handling services including stevedoring, ships agency, and marine services at Teesport and 10 other UK locations. Handles bulk cargo, containers, RoRo and LoLo services.
2. Logistics and Warehousing: Portcentric logistics, contract logistics, and warehousing services including added-value services, distribution, and supply chain management.
3. Rail Freight Services: Rail solutions including Teesport to Manchester, Scotland (Mossend/Grangemouth), and Trans Pennine services with dedicated rail freight terminals.
4. Freight Forwarding: International freight forwarding services with customs clearance, chartering, and commodity cargo inspection.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PD Ports operates the UK's sixth largest port (Teesport) and a network of 10 additional UK locations, delivering integrated port and logistics services. Offerings span stevedoring, portcentric and contract logistics, warehousing, rail freight, freight forwarding, shipping agency, and statutory harbour authority functions. The group also develops specialized infrastructure such as the proposed Teesport Offshore Gateway for offshore wind manufacturing, marshalling, and supply chain support.

Product overview

PD Ports is a port group operating as a platform of integrated port and logistics services. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services including stevedoring, warehousing, contract logistics, portcentric logistics, rail freight (including Trans Pennine and Scottish rail services), freight forwarding with customs clearance, shipping services (chartering, ships agency, cargo inspection), and marine information/harbour authority services. The portfolio also includes the proposed Teesport Offshore Gateway for offshore wind support. Key operational locations span 11 sites across the UK including Teesport (the UK's sixth largest port), Hartlepool, Humber region sites (Groveport, Immingham, Howden, Keadby), and southern sites (Felixstowe, Thames, Isle of Wight). The company also provides a Vehicle Booking System for port access management and maintains Harbour Police services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stevedoring Professional stevedoring services for loading and unloading of vessels at port facilities, including bulk, breakbulk, container, RoRo and LoLo cargo.
• Portcentric Logistics Integrated logistics solutions centered around port operations, connecting shipping with onward transportation and added-value services for enterprise cargo owners.
• Contract Logistics Tailored, long-term contract logistics services designed around specific customer supply chain requirements, including dedicated warehousing and distribution operations.
• Warehousing Storage and warehouse facilities for cargo handling at port-centric sites, including added-value services such as packing, labelling, and distribution.
• Rail Freight Services Rail freight solutions connecting Teesport with inland destinations, including the Trans Pennine service to Manchester and jumbo train services to Mossend and Grangemouth in Scotland. Each Trans Pennine service can remove up to 40 HGVs from roads and produces 76% fewer CO2 emissions versus road transport.
• Jumbo Rail Service to Scotland 16-wagon jumbo rail service providing daily capacity between Scotland and the rest of the world, operated in partnership with Network Rail and DB Cargo.
• Freight Forwarding International freight forwarding services including customs clearance, chartering, and commodity cargo inspection for shippers moving goods through UK ports.
• Shipping Services Comprehensive shipping agency services including chartering, ships agency, and commodity cargo inspection for vessel operators and charterers using PD Ports facilities.
• Teesport Offshore Gateway Proposed offshore wind manufacturing, assembly, marshalling and supply chain support hub offering 180 acres of development potential and up to 1km of deep-water riverside quay with unrestricted North Sea access for renewable energy developers.
• Marine Information and Harbour Authority Services Statutory Harbour Authority functions, port information, shipping reports, navigational bulletins, pilotage, and Ports & Marine Facilities Safety Code compliance for Teesport and Hartlepool, with jurisdiction over 12 miles of the River Tees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 7,000 tonnes of bulk cargo processed per weighbridge per day
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and strategic.

• VEVsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2025Partnership for delivering first commercial eHGV charging facility at Stockton-on-Tees depot. Stagecoach, PD Ports, Port of Middlesbrough collaboration.
• StagecoachsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2025Transport operator launching eHGV charging hub at Stockton depot with PD Ports partnership. 12-month plan to expand eHGV charging across seven UK locations.
• UK Docks Marine ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 March 202540-year lease for former Smith's dockyard dry docks. UK Docks operates marine repair and maintenance services, consolidating all former dockyard facilities under one company.
• Maritime UKstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2024Industry body supporting Tees Maritime Cluster development. Part of Department for Transport's Regional Cluster Development Programme.
• Tees & Hartlepool Port Users AssociationstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2024Member of Tees Maritime Cluster representing around 4,000 businesses. Collaborative initiative for maritime sector growth.
• AV Dawson LimitedsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2024Port of Middlesbrough operator, part of initial Project Delivery Group facilitating Tees Maritime Cluster creation.
• Direct Rail Services (DRS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2024Partnership to launch first Trans Pennine rail freight service using ultra-low IDA wagons capable of carrying high-cube containers. Five-day weekly service from Teesport to Manchester.
• FrachtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreight forwarder partnership for logistics operations supporting renewable energy infrastructure projects. Fracht provides freight forwarding expertise for handling solar panels and lithium cubes through Teesport.
• Cargocare GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreight forwarder partner for managing complex supply chains for renewable energy projects. Coordinated delivery of solar panels to renewable energy farms.
• Network RailsupportingTechnology or IntegrationRail infrastructure partner for operating jumbo train services from Teesport to Scotland (Mossend/Grangemouth) and Manchester.
• DB CargosupportingTechnology or IntegrationRail freight operator partner for jumbo train services connecting Teesport with Scottish destinations.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Forth Ports: Operates Scotland's major ports (including Grangemouth, Dundee, Leith). Directly comparable to PD Ports' Teesport as a UK port operator with bulk, container and cruise capability, but with a primarily Scottish geographic footprint.
• Bristol Port Company: Independent UK deep-water port operator handling containers, RoRo, bulk and project cargo. Comparable to PD Ports as a privately-held, multi-purpose UK port competing for similar shipper and freight-forwarder relationships.

Emerging players

• Wincanton: UK contract logistics and warehousing provider. Overlaps with PD Ports' contract logistics, warehousing and portcentric distribution businesses, and competes for the same retail/manufacturing customers.
• Genesee & Wyoming UK (Freightliner): UK rail freight operator (Freightliner) competing with PD Ports' rail services for intermodal haulage. Comparable in multimodal capability but with a different primary business model (rail operator vs port operator).

Broad incumbents

• HHLA (Hamburger Hafen und Logistik): Listed operator of Hamburg port and intermodal terminals, handling containers and providing integrated logistics. Comparable in port-and-rail intermodal model to PD Ports' Teesport, but at significantly greater scale and with publicly listed transparency.
• Hutchison Ports (Port of Felixstowe): The UK's largest container port and part of CK Hutchison's global port network. A much larger incumbent in UK container handling; comparable to PD Ports' Teesport container business but operating at significantly greater scale.
• DP World (London Gateway / Southampton): Global port operator running two of the UK's largest deep-water container ports. A broad incumbent that competes for the same shipping line customers as Teesport, with far greater scale and a global network.

Direct peers

• Peel Ports Group: Major UK port operator (Liverpool, Manchester Ship Canal, Heysham, London Medway) with an integrated port-and-logistics offering. Comparable to PD Ports in combining bulk, container and cruise operations with warehousing, and competing for the same UK shipper customers.
• Euroports: Pan-European port operator handling bulk, breakbulk, containers and liquid cargo. Comparable to PD Ports' bulk and breakbulk operations and competing in the same European supply chain, though operating a broader international network.
• Associated British Ports (ABP): The UK's largest port operator, owning 21 ports across England, Wales and Scotland. ABP is the closest direct peer, operating a comparable diversified port-and-logistics model with bulk, container, RoRo and cruise terminals, and competing head-to-head with PD Ports for UK port traffic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pdports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pd-ports

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PD Ports