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Last Updated: Sep 25th, 2006 - 11:36:04 |
Westports on course to hit 1m-TEU target
June 5 2006
WESTPORTS Malaysia in Port Klang expects an increase in import and export cargo this year and is on course to achieve its target of one million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units).
For the first four months of this year, it handled 360,000 TEUs of import and export cargo, accounting for 35 per cent of the total container volume.
In a statement released recently, Westports said although transshipment is driving container throughput growth, it is aiming to expand its import and export volume to hit the one million-TEU mark simultaneously for the first time this year.
It sees particular opportunities, spurred on by its location on Pulau Indah, which is set to become the countr y’s leading halal centre.
“Our close proximity to major facilities being developed on Pulau Indah as well as the hype created for the halal sector has made Westports an interesting alternative.
“In other words, if one is looking for capacity, Westports has it and we are ready to handle any upsurge in trade volume,” Westports executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam said.
Meanwhile, transshipment activities between January and April this year reached 723,000 TEUs.
This gives Westports a fourmonth total cargo volume of 1.2 million TEUs, well on its way to attaining its 2006 target of 3.5 million TEUs. Last year, Westports’ car- go volume hit 2.91 million TEUs.
Current market share for Westports at Port Klang is 58 per cent.
“We have also declared 2006 a feeder services year as the call patterns of this service is rather dynamic.
We are working out some benefits to cater for feeder services in an effort to boost the number of calls at current destinations and get these service providers to look at new areas based on demands from main line operators,” said Gnanalingam.
Westpor ts’ current capacity is 6 million TEUs, which will be increased to handle up to 10 million TEUs within the next five years.
As part of efforts to promote trade at Port Klang, Westports, with the co-operation and support of the Transport Ministry, is organising a roadshow themed “Logistics Opportunities in Westports and Port Klang” to be held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on June 12 2006.
The aim of this roadshow is to attract foreign investors, manufacturers and shipping lines to drop anchor at Port Klang.
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