According to foreign media reports, French shipping giant CMA CGM is actively seeking to participate in a major deal involving the sale of dozens of port assets currently held by CK Hutchison Holdings Limited.

CMA CGM’s Chief Financial Officer, Ramon Fernandez, stated on Tuesday that the company is closely monitoring the situation and is “very interested” in being involved in the transaction, which so far has not reached a final resolution.

Fernandez made the remarks during CMA CGM’s second-quarter earnings presentation, noting the group may pursue a direct role in the transaction. CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipping company, is controlled by the Saadé family and led by Rodolphe Saadé.

His comments confirm that negotiations are still ongoing regarding CK Hutchison’s potential sale of 43 port assets.

The initial deal was announced in March 2025, involving a proposed sale of a majority of CK Hutchison’s port portfolio—valued at approximately USD 28 billion—to a consortium including BlackRock and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). MSC is owned by the Aponte family, a prominent Italian shipping dynasty. However, after months of discussions and due to various factors, the exclusivity agreement expired on Sunday, opening the door for competing bids.

On Monday, CK Hutchison confirmed it was still in talks with the original BlackRock-led consortium, which may now include a “key strategic investor from China.”

CMA CGM currently operates 65 port terminals globally, and Fernandez emphasized that the potential CK Hutchison deal is significant for the entire industry and particularly for CMA CGM as a major logistics player. If CMA CGM succeeds in acquiring part of CK Hutchison’s assets, it would highlight the growing competition among leading global container carriers—MSC, Maersk, COSCO, and CMA CGM—to secure vertical integration across the full logistics value chain, including ships, containers, ports, warehouses, and air freight.

CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, founded by Li Ka-shing, is a multinational conglomerate headquartered in Hong Kong. Li is the company’s founder, and the current chairman is his son, Victor Li. CK Hutchison was formed through the merger of Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa in 2015, with core businesses spanning ports, retail, infrastructure, and telecommunications. It is one of the largest container port operators in the world.