CK Hutchison Holdings said it will continue to work with the Panamanian government over the group’s container terminal operations in Panama.

“The group will continue to work to resolve its legal disputes with the Panamanian State and others relating to the group’s container terminal operations in Panama in a way that is fair and protects the interests of the group shareholders,” CK Hutchison Holdings Chairman Victor Li Tzar-kuoi said.

The chairman added that “geopolitical pressures have led to a meaningful legal conflict with the Panamanian State relating to the group’s container terminal operations in Panama, and have complicated ongoing discussions with potential counterparts regarding possible new arrangements for the disposition of interests in the group’s global port operations outside of Panama, Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.”

ALSO READ: Panama court ruling on HK firm ‘baseless, faithless’

The port-to-telecommunication conglomerate, founded by tycoon Li Ka-shing, on Thursday announced its reported earnings — based on Post-IFRS 16 basis — plunged 31 percent to HK$11.8 billion ($1.5 billion) in 2025, with a 7 percent hike in underlying earnings to HK$22.3 billion.

The conglomerate’s final dividend per share increased 6 percent to HK$1.602. Together with the interim dividend, the full year dividend per share jumped 5 percent to HK$2.312.

The group's total revenue rose 6 percent last year to HK$507.2 billion. Retail business revenue, the largest contributor, rose 10 percent to HK$209.2 billion. Port and related services revenue hiked 8 percent to HK$48.8 billion. Infrastructure revenue grew 6 percent to HK$58.7 billion. CK Hutchison Group Telecom's revenue gained 15 percent to HK$101.3 billion.

“As the group’s business will face new and unforeseen challenges in 2026, its highly diversified business and geographic spread largely mitigates the impact of adverse developments in any particular sector or country,” Li said at the webcast press conference on Thursday.

READ MORE: Port dispute a textbook case of coercion corrupting judicial independence

He added the group will maintain its disciplined capital allocation, cash flow, liability management and strong capital profile for delivering a stable performance, with a net debt to net total capital ratio of 13.9 percent at the end of 2025.

The conglomerate’s real-estate arm, CK Asset Holdings, reported its profit attributable to shareholders has dipped 20 percent to HK$10.8 billion. Profit before investment property revaluation increased 2.7 percent to HK$11.9 billion.

The company declared a final dividend of HK$1.39 per share, representing an increase of 3 percent. Together with the interim dividend, the full year dividend rose 2.3 percent to HK$1.78 per share.

“Residential property transaction volumes in Hong Kong experienced a gradual recovery during the year. Stamp duty reductions, lower mortgage interest rates and competitive pricing provided some support to the market. Housing and land policies and interest rate movements will continue to be determining factors for the property market,” Li noted.