CONNECTING CHINA'S MANUFACTURING POWERHOUSE TO THE WORLD
As we move through the second half of 2026, Hutchison Ports continues to advance with clarity, momentum and a sharper focus on opportunity. In July, together with Shenzhen Port Group, we had the honour of co-hosting the Shenzhen Port Global Supply Chain High-Quality Development Conference 2026 for the first time, building momentum towards the APEC 2026 'China Year' and the Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen in November. Nearly 1,000 participants attended, including government officials from China and overseas, representatives of Guangdong-based consular missions of APEC economies, international shipping lines, leading manufacturers and supply-chain companies. Together, they explored new possibilities under the theme 'Benefitting from New APEC Opportunities, Forging a New Future for Port and Shipping Cooperation.'
At the conference, Shenzhen Port Group and Hutchison Ports brought together 16 ports from 10 APEC economies to sign the Sister Port Cooperation Agreements. The objective is clear: to deepen cooperation in service-network expansion, green shipping, smart-port development and talent cultivation.
We are also pleased to announce the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with Midea and TCL—two companies that exemplify the scale, innovation and global reach of China's advanced manufacturing sector. Midea serves more than 500 million users in over 200 countries and regions. Its capabilities extend beyond smart-home appliances into robotics, industrial technology, building technologies, healthcare and logistics.
TCL is a global leader in display technology and consumer electronics. Industry reporting indicates that TCL shipped 30.7 million televisions in 2025. In January 2026, TCL and Sony announced their intention to form a strategic home-entertainment joint venture; definitive agreements were signed in March. Subject to regulatory approvals, operations are expected to begin in April 2027. Industry estimates indicate that their combined global TV market share could put them among the market leaders.
These partnerships are rooted in real business needs. With Midea, we will strengthen supply-chain resilience, reliability and international connectivity in support of its global growth and its ambition to reach 1.5 million TEU in annual global shipments by 2027. With TCL, we will identify gateway-port and integrated logistics solutions that connect manufacturing bases more efficiently with overseas markets and support sustainable growth in the communities we serve. These are more than agreements on paper; they reflect shared ambition, complementary strengths and a common belief that long-term value is created through collaboration.
Their achievements also reflect the enduring strength of China as the 'world's factory.' China has ranked first globally in manufacturing scale for 15 consecutive years, demonstrating that China's advantage is increasingly defined not only by scale, but also by technology, quality and innovation.
As Shenzhen prepares to host the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November, the spotlight will again be on the Asia-Pacific region—its connectivity, resilience and ability to support more efficient and sustainable trade. The region is one of Hutchison Ports' core strategic markets. We operate in 22 ports across nine APEC economies, which handled a combined 63.4 million TEU in 2025. Across these markets, our terminals serve as vital gateways linking production centres with consumers and supporting deeper economic and trade cooperation.
Looking ahead, I am confident that Hutchison Ports, TCL and Midea will expand hand in hand into new markets—combining world-class manufacturing, technology and port connectivity to build smarter and more resilient global supply chains.
Eric Ip
Group Managing Director
Hutchison Ports
