CMA CGM sets Up $10 billion global terminals venture with Stonepeak

French liner major CMA CGM has created a new global terminals platform, United Ports LLC, in partnership with US-based infrastructure investor Stonepeak, in a joint venture that values the portfolio at nearly $10 billion. Under the agreement, Stonepeak will invest $2.4 billion to acquire a 25 per cent minority stake in United Ports, while CMA CGM will contribute 10 container terminals it currently operates across key gateway locations.

The joint venture’s portfolio spans six countries and includes some of CMA CGM’s most strategic facilities, such as Fenix Marine Services in Los Angeles, Port Liberty terminals in New York and Bayonne, terminals at Santos in Brazil, multiple Spanish facilities including CSP Valencia, CSP Bilbao and TTI Algeciras, Terminal Maritima del Guadalquivir, Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal in India, CMA CGM’s Kaohsiung terminal in Taiwan and Gemalink at Cai Mep in Vietnam. CMA CGM will retain 75 per cent ownership and full operational control of United Ports, positioning the venture as a vehicle to accelerate long-term investment in terminal capacity and service quality.

Stonepeak has also earmarked up to an additional $3.6 billion to fund future terminal projects under the partnership, giving the JV significant firepower for further acquisitions and greenfield developments. CMA CGM said the $2.4 billion in proceeds from the transaction will be reinvested into the growth of its core shipping and logistics businesses, including expanded end-to-end supply chain solutions across sea, land and air.

Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and CEO of CMA CGM Group, described the creation of United Ports as an important step in scaling the group’s terminal activities in the US and globally, adding that partnering with a specialist infrastructure investor strengthens its ability to invest in port assets, secure access to critical gateways and enhance service reliability for customers. The structure also mirrors a broader industry trend of carriers unlocking capital from infrastructure while maintaining operational control, as they seek balance-sheet flexibility amid a volatile container shipping cycle.