CK Hutchison (0006.HK) Threatens Legal Action Over Panama Canal Ports Takeover

CK Hutchison Holdings (0006.HK) announced on February 12, 2026, it will pursue legal action following Panama’s Supreme Court on January 28, 2026,裁定 its concession to operate two Panama Canal ports unconstitutional. The court ordered a Danish logistics group, A.P. Moller-Maersk’s subsidiary, to temporarily take over operations pending a new concession auction. The Hong Kong conglomerate said it disagrees with the ruling and has initiated arbitration under an investment protection treaty. It notified A.P. Moller-Maersk that unauthorized operations will trigger legal recourse and is considering additional national and international proceedings to protect its rights. Panama Ports Co., a CK Hutchison subsidiary, has operated the ports since 1997 under a 25-year concession renewed in 2021. The dispute adds uncertainty to CK Hutchison’s earlier plan to sell the ports to a consortium including BlackRock, which Beijing reportedly opposed.