The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has recorded its highest first half year throughput ever, handling 2,010,620 teu in the first six months of 2004 - a staggering 25% up on the same period last year when it handled 1,604,650 teu.
 
Transshipment volumes during the first half of 2004, amounted 1,834,407 teu - up 24.6% on the 1,472,297 teu handled in the first six months of 2003.

Local cargo volumes posted a strong 22% growth - up from the 63,526 teu handled in the first half of last year, to reach 77,576 teu in the first six months of 2004 The phenomenal growth at PTP has attributed to the continuing strong global economic upturn, as well as the addition of a number of new services calling at the port In the first half of 2004, vessels calls at PTP increased 5.3% 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 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 the two additional berths expected in mid July 2004 will also increase the port's capacity from 4.5 million to 6 million teu 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 A number of significant milestones were reached in the first half of 2004. These included, the launch of the Port Community Portal by the Malaysian Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in February.
 
In May PTP handled its ten millionth teu - an achievement reached in less than five years of operation, and in the same month, the port set a new world productivity record with 340 gross berth moves per hour, during operation on the Maersk Sealand containership, AP Moller.