Malta Freeport Terminals Limited benefits from reliable and experienced shareholders providing a solid foundation for further growth.
Following the privatisation of Malta Freeport Terminals in 2004, the Freeport now has a strong shareholding structure composed of Terminal Link, the leading container terminal operator; Yildirim Group, one of the leading global diversified industrial groups in Turkey; as well as the strong presence of CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest shipping line; and China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited, the largest terminal operator in China. This solid shareholding mix strongly supports the Company’s investment initiatives to further enhance the Freeport’s market position and competitiveness as a leading hub in the Mediterranean.
Terminal Link
Terminal Link was created in 2001 and today is a limited company. 51% of Terminal Link is held by CMA CGM and 49% by China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited (CMPort). (CMPort was China Merchants Holdings International) before August 2016. Terminal Link is a key player in its capacity as an international container terminal operator, developer and investor with interests in 21 terminals to date. Its network covers Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Terminal Link is committed to offering high-quality services, optimising the financial value and profitability of each of its terminals, whilst maintaining a diverse customer base.
CMA CGM
CMA CGM is the third-largest container shipping company worldwide. The carrier transports a volume of 22 million TEUs each year. It operates a fleet of 620 vessels with a slot capacity in TEUs of 5 million. The carrier serves over 420 ports of the world’s 521 commercial ports and operates 257 shipping lines. CMA CGM is present in more than 160 countries through its network of 755 agencies, 750 warehouses and 160,000 employees. Today, the Group is reinventing the entire shipping experience to provide a seamless maritime, ports, and logistics service that exceeds all expectations.
CMPort
China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited (CMPort), a subsidiary of China Merchants Group, is China’s largest public port operator and a key global player in port investment, development, and operations. CMPort manages over 50 ports in more than 25 countries, spanning China, Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. From 2020-2025, it expanded under the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthened logistics hubs in Djibouti and Sri Lanka, and advanced smart port initiatives with AI, blockchain, and automation. Green port investments focus on sustainability, shore power, and carbon neutrality. With projected 2025 revenue exceeding HKD 35 billion and TEU handling surpassing 140 million, CMPort drives growth through digital transformation, eco-friendly initiatives, and global partnerships while navigating geopolitical and regulatory challenges.
Yilport Holding Inc.
In 2011, YILPORT Holding Inc. was established to unify the port operations of YILDIRIM Group, initiating the Gemlik terminal project and acquiring Gemport and a stake in Malta Freeport. Expansion continued with the acquisition of Rotaport in 2012, Gävle Container Terminal and the Port of Oslo in 2014, and the Tertir portfolio in 2015. In 2016, YILPORT added Solventaş, Baltic Sea Gateway, and Puerto Bolívar in Ecuador, aiming to develop Latin America’s largest terminal on the Pacific Coast. Further growth included Nordic Logistics Group in 2017, Taranto SCCT and YILPORT Quetzal in 2018, and investments in Taranto SCCT and Gävle in 2020. In 2023, YILPORT expanded into Africa with operations in Takoradi, Ghana, and took over the Port of Šibenik, Croatia. Now ranked the 10th largest global container terminal operator, YILPORT continues to grow its market share and throughput worldwide.
Over 395 million Euro invested since Malta Freeport was privatised in 2004. Other investment initiatives are being pursued to strengthen the Freeport’s capability of facing the next wave of challenges.