Northport, which operates Klang Container Terminal (KCT) and Klang Port Management (KPM), remained ahead of all its peers in terms of the total volume handled during the first quarter of the year.

The throughput volume recorded by Northport for the first quarter was 531,131 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), a 15 per cent growth in comparison to the same period last year.

The PTP, which tags itself as the South-East Asia's fastest growing transhipment hub, achieved a volume of 386,394 TEUs during January to March 2001.

This represents a 46 per cent increase from the last quarter of 2000, the port said in a statement.

In terms of traffic profile, Northport handled a total of 246,262 TEUs of indigenous traffic during the first quarter in comparison, giving it a strong grip on local volume with 73 per cent market share of Port Klang's traffic in this category.

Northport's volumes grew from 241,735 TEUs in 2000 to 246,262 TEUs in 2001.

This was in line with the overall growth in Port Klang.

Import volumes recorded strong growth.

Northport experienced a 10 per cent growth from a throughput of 105,645 TEUs to 116,651 TEUs during the period under review.

Within Northport's own sphere of activities, the volume of transhipment containers grew by 43 per cent from a throughput of 146,894 TEUs to 210,379 TEUs for the first quarter this year.

Northport continues to play a vital role in contributing to the country's vision of making Port Klang the hub centre for transhipment trade in the region.

In terms of market share, Northport leads, handling more than 55 per cent of the total transhipment volumes in Port Klang.

Based on current indicators, Northport is confident that it is able to sustain the growth through expansion of indigenous trade as well as regional transhipment trade.

There were more than 10 new direct services introduced by Northport's existing customers for last year.

Northport also saw an increase in the number of feeder services hubbing in Port Klang.

This trend has translated into continuous improvement in terms of the average number of containers exchanged per vessel.

With KCT and KPM now operating in unison, Northport is now more confident of its ability to render improved services to customers with the enlarged range of resources and greater flexibility.

With the inherent strengths of both companies, there will be tremendous opportunities to offer the clients a service profile that best suit their requirements.

Northport completed the year 2000 as the terminal with the largest market share in terms of the volume of containers handled both in Port Klang and in Malaysia.

Total local laden containers handled in Northport was 1.37 million TEUs which was 74 per cent of the total 1.86 million volume handled in Port Klang.

For the transhipment containers, Northport recorded a high growth of 45 per cent compared to that of 1999.

For last year, Northport recorded a transhipment throughput of 806,756 TEUs, again leading with a market share of 60 per cent.

Transhipment volume for Port Klang was 1.35 million TEUs which was the first year that the volume surpassed the millionth TEU mark.

Meanwhile, the PTP said after recording a 46 per cent increase in handling during the first quarter, the port is projecting a 20 per cent rise in volume in the second quarter.

PTP said its handling this March increased to 148,000 TEUs and this figure is expected to grow by around 15 per cent-20 per cent from May onwards.

By year-end, PTP estimated the volumes to be on target at 2 million TEUs.

First quarter throughput also saw growing exports and imports, constituting 16,307 TEUs, about 4 per cent of the total throughput with the remaining 96 per cent constituting transhipment cargo.

Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman, PTP's chief executive officer, said: "The 46 per cent growth rate to 386,394 TEUs is largely due to an increase of services at PTP and the growing of existing services.

"The excellent growth in volumes and productivity was achieved through continued dialogue and close cooperation with our customers.

We are now preparing for a further 20 per cent increase in the next quarter.

"On productivity levels, Mohd Sidik said "the beginning of the second quarter represents a new step for the PTP.

We have already brought our productivity levels to benchmark other regional ports.

Focus is now on further increases and exceeding our customers' expectations.

""The lines and the end-users have now experienced what we can offer.

There will be continued improvements on value-added services from here for their benefit.

"During the first three-month period, the PTP received 534 container vessel calls and 251 non-containerised vessels.

The non-container vessel calls constituted largely of Star Cruise daily calls.

Apart from Maersk Sealand, other lines at PTP include APL-NOL, MCC Transport, Kimtrans, Bayswater (Kaz Industries), QC Line, Orient Express Line, Bengal Tiger Line and Bangladeshi Shipping Line.

It has also increased its operational capacity with the purchase of additional equipment currently totalling 14 Super Post Panamax quay cranes, two mobile harbour cranes, 36 Rubber-Tyred Gantry cranes and a full complement of prime movers and other ancillary equipment.

By year-end, an additional of 10 quay cranes and 36 Rubber-Tyred Gantry cranes will be added for PTP to increase its current handling capacity to 4.5 million TEUs per year next year.