PTP's 30% volume boom to continue through 2003

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has reported throughput growth of 30% for 2002, and, buoyed by cargo expected from new customer Evergreen, predicted the same order of growth for 2003. PTP said that it handled 2.66m TEU in 2002, adding that it is ‘confident of achieving a further 30% year-on-year growth’ in 2003.Evergreen’s decision to move operations to the port ‘contributed significantly’ to volume growth in 2002, said the port.PTP’s confidence with regard to 2003 reflects the fact that this move, thought to be worth around 1.2m TEU annually, only took place in late August 2002.Around 95% of the port’s year 2002 volumes were transhipment boxes, with the remainder coming from local exports and imports. The port averaged 30-31 moves per hour per crane for the year.PTP’s CEO, Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman, commented: ‘PTP’s high productivity rising amidst high volumes also demonstrates PTP’s excellence in fast gaining its status as South East Asia’s leading transhipment hub.’He added: ‘The hubbing of Maersk Sealand and Evergreen in PTP has also contributed much in terms of spin-off growth.’Under the port’s phase II development, eight additional berths are being reclaimed and two new berths constructed. The completion of the two new berths will enable PTP to handle 6m TEU per annum by early 2004.Mohd Sidik said that PTP is ‘aggressively’ seeking to attract investors and logistics operators to PTP’s ‘land bank’, which includes a free industrial zone and distribution park. He said that BMW’s move to PTP will serve as an example.