PD Ports
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1852
- HeadquartersMiddlesbrough, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
PD Ports firmographics
Firmographics- 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
PD Ports industry classification
Industry- 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
Where PD Ports is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Middlesbrough
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices12 records
Markets served
PD Ports business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 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.
- Logistics and Warehousing: Portcentric logistics, contract logistics, and warehousing services including added-value services, distribution, and supply chain management.
- Rail Freight Services: Rail solutions including Teesport to Manchester, Scotland (Mossend/Grangemouth), and Trans Pennine services with dedicated rail freight terminals.
- 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
PD Ports product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use PD Ports
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PD Ports technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
PD Ports partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and strategic.
- VEVsupportingPartnership for delivering first commercial eHGV charging facility at Stockton-on-Tees depot. Stagecoach, PD Ports, Port of Middlesbrough collaboration.
- StagecoachsupportingTransport 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 Servicescore40-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 UKstrategicIndustry body supporting Tees Maritime Cluster development. Part of Department for Transport's Regional Cluster Development Programme.
- Tees & Hartlepool Port Users AssociationstrategicMember of Tees Maritime Cluster representing around 4,000 businesses. Collaborative initiative for maritime sector growth.
- AV Dawson LimitedsupportingPort of Middlesbrough operator, part of initial Project Delivery Group facilitating Tees Maritime Cluster creation.
- Direct Rail Services (DRS)corePartnership 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.
- FrachtcoreFreight 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 GlobalcoreFreight forwarder partner for managing complex supply chains for renewable energy projects. Coordinated delivery of solar panels to renewable energy farms.
- Network RailsupportingRail infrastructure partner for operating jumbo train services from Teesport to Scotland (Mossend/Grangemouth) and Manchester.
- DB CargosupportingRail freight operator partner for jumbo train services connecting Teesport with Scottish destinations.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
PD Ports competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional 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
PD Ports social profiles
Digital presencePD Ports compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
PD Ports financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PD Ports leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
PD Ports subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
PD Ports funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PD Ports M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PD Ports
What does PD Ports do?
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.
Is PD Ports a public or private company?
PD Ports is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was PD Ports founded?
PD Ports was founded in 1852. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is PD Ports based?
PD Ports is headquartered in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does PD Ports make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Port Operations are the primary driver. The others are logistics and Warehousing, rail Freight Services and freight Forwarding.
Who are PD Ports's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Forth Ports and Bristol Port Company. Emerging players are Wincanton and Genesee & Wyoming UK (Freightliner). Broad incumbents are HHLA (Hamburger Hafen und Logistik), Hutchison Ports (Port of Felixstowe) and DP World (London Gateway / Southampton). Direct peers are Peel Ports Group, Euroports and Associated British Ports (ABP).
Does PD Ports have an API?
No public API is recorded for PD Ports.
What industry is PD Ports in?
PD Ports's product category is Port and Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAHAFAI, Port Operations Control Center / Port Call Orchestration, with a secondary code of TLAHAAAB, Gateway Container Terminals (Import/Export). Its NAICS code is 488310 and its SIC code is 4400.