JOHOR BAHARU, July 8 (Bernama) -- The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has recorded its highest first half year throughput ever, handling more than 2.01 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first six month of this year.

This is a staggering 25 percent increase compared with the same period last year when it handled 1.60 million TEUs.

Transhipment volume during the first half of 2004 amounted to 1.83 million TEUs, up 24.6 percent from the 1.47 million TEUs handled during the same period of 2003, PTP said in a statement Thursday.

Local cargo volume posted a strong 22 percent growth, up from the 63,526 TEUs handled in the first half of last year to reach 77,576 TEUs in the first six month of this year.

"The phenomenal growth at PTP is attributed to the continuing strong global economic upturn, as well as the addition of a number of new services calling at the port," PTP said.

It said in the first half of 2004, vessels calling at PTP increased 5.3 percent on the same period last year, numbering 1,584 compared with 1,504 in 2003.

"Effectively, the increase equates to around three extra calls per week," it said.

With cargo volumes rising on major trade routes, in particular, Asia-Europe, PTP has experienced a strong growth in volumes as it continues to retain its premier position as a transshipment port.

The completion of two additional berths expected in mid July, it said, would also increase the port's capacity from 4.5 million to 6 million TEUs per annum.

"Shippers have continued to show their confidence in PTP, and growth in the volume of domestic cargo handled by the port is a reflection of the faith entrusted in PTP by the local community," it added.

PTP, South East Asia's fastest growing port located at the southwest shoulder of Johor, offers six berths of 360m each totalling 2.16km in length and backed up by one of the largest container yards in the region with a storage capacity of 110,000 TEUs.