US President Donald Trump was joined by CMA CGM’s French-Lebanese President Rodolphe Saadé in the Oval Office to announce a $20 billion investment in America’s shipping and logistics sector. The investment, according to the French-based giant, includes the expansion of container ports and the creation of an air cargo hub in Chicago, supported by five new Boeing 777 freighters flown by American pilots. This initiative is expected to help generate approximately 10,000 new jobs. CMA CGM already operates port terminals in New York and Los Angeles.

CMA CGM was founded in 1978 by Jacques Saadé and is the world’s third-largest container shipping line. As of 2025, CMA CGM is 73% owned by Rodolphe Saadé and his family through Merit France SAS. The Turkish family-owned company Yildirim Holding holds a 24% stake, and the French public-sector investment bank Bpifrance has a 3% holding.

In 2022, CMA CGM won the contract to manage Beirut Port’s container terminal for 10 years.

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