OPPORTUNITY (Issue 16) | Hutchison Ports

In this issue we look at Mexico’s rise as a major industrialised trading nation, and the country’s path to become an international shipping and logistics hub.

In shipping’s drive to become emission free, we ask if hydrogen can become the green energy source of choice and take a look at the development of the humble gantry crane which has transformed ports all over the world.

We track the reasons behind the rise of global rail freight volumes and review the latest developments across Hutchison Ports network.

GMD UPFRONT MESSAGE

As the year draws to a close, we can expect 2023 to bring no fewer challenges than we have faced in the past few years. Without a doubt container shipping will continue to keep global trade moving forward, despite the multiple headwinds facing the industry, such as geopolitical tensions, high energy costs, rising inflation, a decline in consumer confidence that may tip the scale on supply and demand, shifting locations of manufacturing sites and fast-changing trading patterns.

MEXICO MOVING ON UP

Mexico covers an area of nearly two million km2, its capital city is Mexico City. When compared, Mexico is almost four times the size of Spain or nearly three times the size of the State of Texas in the United States (US). With an estimated population of 126.4 million people (2022) Mexico is the third-most populous country in Latin America

LIFTOFF FOR HYDROGEN

Hydrogen is the first element of the periodic table as its atomic number is one, which means it has only one electron in its atom and thus only one electron is present in its outermost shell. The placement of elements in the periodic table is based on their electronic configuration.

GANTRY CRANES FROM ANCIENT GREECE TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

For many years the gantry crane, the unsung hero of container terminal operations, has dominated the skylines to ports around the world. However, its origins are in the ancient world of Greece and Rome, whose engineers used the lifting equipment to build cities, roads and temples across their empires thousands of years ago. The Ancient Greek’s used the word ‘crane’ for the lifting equipment as its construction resembled that of the wading bird.

RAILFREIGHT ON THE RIGHT TRACK

Rail freight has not always had the profile of other major modes of transport such as ocean transportation and air cargo. During the recent disruption to the global supply chain, rail has been providing a consistently reliable mode of transport for both transcontinental routes in Asia, North America, and Europe as well as inland markets.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST AND EUROPE

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