Maersk sees its future with PTP

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has grown to be and will remain as one of the most important transhipment hubs in the world for global shipping line and logistics company AP Moller Maersk, company officials said on April 11.

“It (PTP) is one of our three largest transhipment hubs in the world,” Maersk Southeast Asia senior general manager and intelligence communications and branding head Sune Stilling said.

Speaking at a media briefing at PTP on April 11, Stilling said the group was positive about its business in Asia.

A recent report in the Edge Singapore indicated that Southeast Asia was only superseded by the group’s North America and mainland China operations.

Maersk Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director Kim Hansen said Malaysia remained an important part of the group's business.

“Growth is not as fast as its neighbours but it is a steady and regular growth. Total throughput in PTP last year was about four million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and we were a significant part of it.

“As a rule of thumb, you take GDP (gross domestic product), double it and you have the growth rate for the container shipping business and as you can see, growth is quiet high.”

“The wonderful thing about PTP is that it is very scaleable. The port itself has been expanding since 2000 and we don’t see why it won’t be a hub for us for the long time to come,” he added.

Hansen would not rule out further acquisitions for Maersk if opportunities arose. Maersk operates Maersk Line and Maersk Logistics in PTP.

Maersk more than raised eyebrows in 2000 when it shifted the bulk of its container operations and essentially its transhipment hub from Singapore to PTP. It also took up a 30% stake in PTP.