Westports Malaysia volume up 25pc or 5.55 million TEU in 2010

WESTPORTS Malaysia has announced that it handled 5.55 million TEU in 2010, up 25 per cent year on year against the 4.45 million TEU lifted in 2009.

Local import and export containers handled by Westports grew 22 per cent while transshipment traffic increased 23 per cent, reflecting an sound recovery in both domestic and regional trade in 2010.

Additionally, Westports absorbed 64 per cent of overall container market share in Port Klang, while local volume accounted for 45 per cent share.

The port said its local volume was grown from 1.2 million TEU in 2009 to 1.5 million in 2010.

"Local and global trade activities rebounded in 2010, particularly on the container side amid improving economies worldwide," said Westports chief executive officer Ruben Emir Gnanalingam.

"We also inked long-term partnership with major shipping lines like China Shipping and Hanjin and long-term sublease agreement with Shell Malaysia Trading to operate and manage liquid bulk cargo."

Looking forward to the prospects of 2011, he said Westports was building a 300-metre wharf.

"We expect our new wharf and equipment to be ready for operations by the third quarter of 2011. We are now well positioned and prepared to handle more mega- sized vessels carrying 14,000 TEUs and above," he said.

The company expects to handle six million TEU this year.
(Source:www.schednet.com)