Ports of Auckland Ltd., New Zealand's biggest, might bid for the container operations of its largest rival Port of Tauranga Ltd.
"It is widely recognized that structural changes are needed in the port sector," Auckland Managing Director Jens Madsen said today in a statement e-mailed to Bloomberg News. "The sustainability of existing port sector investments and the global competitiveness of the country's supply chain might be assisted by the purchase of Tauranga's container business by Auckland."
The two ports began merger talks in 2006 to create the nation's biggest terminal company in a bid to reduce costs and better service shipping companies as they use bigger vessels and reduce visits. Tauranga withdrew from the talks in March 2007, saying they and Auckland Regional Holdings Ltd., which owns Auckland, couldn't agree on terms.
"It is widely recognized that structural changes are needed in the port sector," Auckland Managing Director Jens Madsen said today in a statement e-mailed to Bloomberg News. "The sustainability of existing port sector investments and the global competitiveness of the country's supply chain might be assisted by the purchase of Tauranga's container business by Auckland."
The two ports began merger talks in 2006 to create the nation's biggest terminal company in a bid to reduce costs and better service shipping companies as they use bigger vessels and reduce visits. Tauranga withdrew from the talks in March 2007, saying they and Auckland Regional Holdings Ltd., which owns Auckland, couldn't agree on terms.