POSITIVE GROWTH SEEN: The container handling performance by Malaysian ports showed a growth 2.82 per cent or an increase of 569,252 TEUs for 2012. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: The container handling performance by Malaysian ports showed a growth 2.82 per cent or an increase of 569,252 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) for 2012.
In 2011, the TEUs handled by the Malaysian ports stood at 20,209,154.
But in 2012, Malaysian ports handled 20,778,406 TEUs.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha in a statement said in 2012, the container handling continuously showed positive growth, despite the lack of demand from China and the bleak economic environment in Europe.
This success he added, is due to the strong sustainable economic growth in Malaysia and the strong intra Asian trade.
“In addition, the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) launched by the government in strategic areas of the nation, has acted as a catalyst to induce the positive performance of container handling in Malaysian ports,” he said.
Kong said the proactive measures undertaken by ports in Malaysia to ensure a first class delivery system through upgrading of port infrastructure and the relationship management with the industrial and trade sectors, has attracted many shipping companies to select Malaysian ports as their port of choice.
He said Port Kelang continued its status as the number one container handler in Malaysia.
In 2012, Port Kelang handled 10 million TEUs in comparison to 9.6 million in 2011, an increase of 4.2 per cent.
The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) came in second with the handling of 7.72 million TEUs, in comparison to 7.5 million in 2011, an increase of 2.9 per cent.
Containerisation International has ranked Port Klang and the PTP as 13th and 17th respectively for 2009 – 2011 based on global performance. — Bernama