Groveport expansion bolsters PD Ports

(Posted on 23/05/19)

PD Ports has announced a multi-million-pound investment at Groveport in partnership with one of Europe’s fastest growing international steel traders and long-standing customer, All Steels Trading.

This new long-term contract represents the largest single investment in the last decade at Groveport and signifies the next step in PD Ports’ growth strategy as the Port gears up for further expansion to support its growing reputation as the UK’s market leader for handling long steel products.

Construction on the new six-month build programme, which offers direct quay access, started in March and will see All Steels Trading’s footprint at Groveport expand from 166,000 sq. ft to over 300,000 sq. ft.

Once operational, PD Ports’ skilled and experienced team will handle, store and prepare the steel traders’ products ensuring they are available on demand; bolstering All Steels Trading’s customer commitment to short delivery lead-times and value for money.

Laurence McDougall, All Steels Trading Managing Director believes the partnership with PD Ports works because of the unique working relationship.

“PD Ports understands what we need to keep our customers on track, it’s an invaluable partnership. Having the ability to centralise all of our operations at Groveport enables us to deliver an unrivalled service for our customers, reaffirming our market position as the number one choice for long steel products in the UK.

“There is no other port in the UK that can offer the unique combination of capacity, infrastructure and exceptional service levels that we require. This new facility will streamline our entire business model.

“We often have to respond quickly to fluctuations in demand and knowing we can rely on PD Ports to handle, store and have our steel products available on demand adds real strength to our customer offer in terms of efficiency and value for money.”

Geoff Lippitt, PD Ports’ Group Business Development Director, sees this new contract as a further testament to the Company’s steel handling expertise and highly regarded reputation for deliverable logistics services.

“We are incredibly proud to have further strengthened our long-standing relationship with All Steels Trading as UK port of choice beyond 2035.

“The length of the contract with All Steels Trading shows a true partnership and demonstrates the trust and confidence the Company has in our market knowledge and our ability to understand as well as respond to their needs.

“Our skills and experience complemented by our central UK location for transport distribution to key UK steel processing sites and backed by a dedicated haulage fleet has positioned Groveport as the UK’s market leader for handling long steel products.

“We have seen transformational change in the global steel industry in recent years which has brought challenges but also real opportunity for some of our customers and we are continuing to invest and support that customer growth.”