DP World throughput up 18% in 2007

Dubai Ports World handled 43.3 million TEUs across its global portfolio of 42 terminals in 2007, up 18 percent against 36.8 million TEUs in 2006.

The terminal operator saw strong growth across all three of its regions with the Middle East, Europe and Africa region increasing 19 percent to 20.3 million TEUs. Within that reporting region, the company's two Dubai ports of Jebel Ali and Port Rashid saw combined growth of 20 percent to reach 10.7 million TEUs. DP World Jebel Ali alone gained 25 percent to reach 9.9 million TEUs helped by the opening of a new second terminal in the second half of the year. The Asia Pacific and Indian Subcontinent region recorded a 17 percent increase to 18.3 million TEUs while the Americas and Australia region delivered growth of 18 percent to 4.7 million TEUs.

2007 was another excellent year of growth for DP World, with our portfolio continuing to grow ahead of global container trade growth, estimated at 10.8 percent," said Mohammed Sharaf, DP World's chief executive officer.

During 2007, DP World gained concessions to develop new terminals in Rotterdam and London in Europe as well the right to takeover the existing port in Dakar, Senegal and build a new port there too. It also acquired Sokhna Port in Egypt.

The company added that its current global capacity of more than 48 million TEUs is set to increase to about 90 million TEUs by 2017 on the back of "a committed pipeline of expansion and development projects in key growth markets, including India, China and the Middle East.".

Source:American Shippers