Why Busan Port Authority Presented a Plaque of Appreciation to the World's Largest Container Shipping Company

President Sanggeun Song Visits MSC Headquarters
Delivers Plaque of Appreciation for Achieving 4 Million TEU

Busan Port Authority (BPA, President Sanggeun Song) has begun collaborating with the world's largest container shipping company to enhance Busan Port's role as a transshipment hub.

On May 22, BPA visited the headquarters of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) in Geneva, Switzerland, and presented a plaque of appreciation to Diego Aponte, President of the MSC Group, the authority announced on May 23. During the visit, the two sides also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation to enhance Busan Port's transshipment hub capabilities.

This visit was arranged to express gratitude for MSC's achievement of handling 4 million TEU annually at Busan Port in 2024, the first time for a single shipping company, and to strengthen future partnership. Over the past five years, MSC has maintained an average annual cargo volume growth rate of 23% at Busan Port.

Busan Port serves as the final Asian port of call for MSC's regular routes to North America. MSC strategically utilizes this by consolidating intra-Asia cargo at Busan and then loading it onto mother vessels bound for North America. This process maximizes the loading rate and increases transshipment cargo volume at Busan Port, creating mutual benefits.

During the meeting, Aponte expressed concerns that inter-terminal transport (ITT) arising from the operation of multiple terminals at Busan Port could undermine competitiveness.

In response, Sanggeun Song explained that BPA would improve operational efficiency based on intelligent logistics processes and address this issue through the 'Port-i' smart port platform, which is scheduled for full-scale operation in the second half of this year.

Song stated, "Cooperation with MSC, which is actively leveraging the strengths of Busan Port, is key to enhancing port competitiveness. We will work together to identify practical cooperation measures for sustainable growth and innovation."

Busan Port Authority President Sanggeun Song (left) is presenting the "First Single Shipping Company to Achieve 4 Million TEU" plaque of appreciation to Diego Aponte, President of MSC Group.