“We are cleaning up corruption. I just found out that the port of Veracruz was concessioned to a company, first for 50 years, and 10 days after we won, that company received another concession, extending the term to another 50 years; imagine a century-long concession from the port of Veracruz. How come they signed that?” Obrador said during the press conference.

Speaking at his daily morning news conference, President Andres Manuel López Obrador declined to name the port operator, but said it was "excessive" for a private company to have such a long contract to operate the port.

A document later published on Twitter by Lopez Obrador revealed that the concession was owned by API Veracruz, the state-run port administrator established in 1993 by former President Carlos Salinas.

Hutchison Ports ICAVE, part of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings, manages port container operations.

Hutchison Ports has a strong Mexican foothold in its global portfolio, with four facilities around the region.

Maritime Business World