The port recorded a throughput of 2.66 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) for year 2002, surpassing its own estimates of 2.5 million TEUs or 30.20 per cent increase over the 2.05 million TEUs in 2001.

PTP chief executive officer Mohd Sidik Shaikh Osman said PTP was confident of achieving a further 30 per cent year-on-year growth in 2003.

"Our current focus, while additional berths are being constructed, is to aggressively attract logistics players and investors in PTP's large land bank including the free industrial zone and the distribution park," he said in a statement on Jan 2.

He said the shifting of BMW's operations to PTP would enable the port to be more competitive to attract other major international players to base their operations and distribution at the port.

To handle the increasing volume, PTP is developing phase two where reclamation of an additional eight berths and the construction of two berths are under way.

When the two additional two berths are completed, PTP will be able to handle six million TEUs annually by early 2004.

Commenting on 2002's performance, Mohd Sidik said 95 per cent of the volume was transhipment containers and the rest local exports and imports.

The strong growth was the result of the port's efforts in securing new markets for cargo despite volatile economic conditions. The shift of Evergreen Marine Corp in late August 2002 also contributed significantly to PTP's growth levels