CONFERENCE RECAP: TERMINALS
Racing toward the future: How DP World is re-engineering the global port industry
W hen Maksim Mihic, Global Executive Vice President of DP World’s ports and terminals operations, steps onto a con- ference stage, he’s as likely to invoke Formula One racing as he is container throughput. And for good reason. “We’re global partners with McLaren,” he begins with a smile. “We help move their cars and equipment all over the world. But more than that, we share a philosophy: innovation, speed, and precision win the race.” The metaphor sets the tone for his presentation — a high-speed tour through the transformation of one of the world’s largest logistics compan- ies. DP World is no longer just a port operator. It’s becoming the global “race car” of logistics — data-driven, inter- connected, and racing to keep pace with the accelerating demands of inter- national trade. From port operator to global supply chain powerhouse Before COVID-19, Mihic says, “you’d probably have known DP World simply as a terminal operator.”
The [racing] metaphor sets the tone for Mihic’s presentation — a high-speed tour through the transformation of one of the world’s largest logistics companies.
That was already impressive. In 2019, DP World’s network spanned dozens of countries. But the pandemic years pushed the company to rethink its purpose and expand aggressively across the full logistics spectrum. “Fast-forward to 2023,” Mihic explains, “and we’ve evolved into an end-to-end logistics provider.” Today, DP World operates 560 busi- ness units across 75 countries, employs 115,000 people, and manages a con- tainer capacity exceeding 100 million TEUs. But perhaps the most telling figure is how deeply integrated the com- pany has become in global trade. “In Nigeria alone,” Mihic notes, “we sup- ply 400,000 stores. In Namibia, 70 percent of all retail goods pass through our supply chain. That’s the scale of what DP World has become.” The company has diversified into feeder shipping, economic zones,
inland logistics, and digital freight for- warding. It even owns Unifeeder, one of the world’s largest feeder operators. “If you were hiding during COVID and came back in 2023,” Mihic quips, “you wouldn’t recognize DP World anymore.” The technical challenge: Meeting the demands of mega-alliances DP World’s transformation isn’t just about scale — it’s about speed and sophistication. Mihic draws parallels to Formula One again: “Before the race begins, the car’s design and engineering matter more than the driver’s reflexes. In our industry, that means how we design and operate our terminals.” He uses the example of Gemini Cooperation, the new shipping alli- ance between Maersk and Hapag- Lloyd. The alliance has pledged that 90 percent of its vessels will arrive on
30 — PACIFIC PORTS — October/November 2025
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