China Shipping (Group) is negotiating with Malaysian port operators, Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) and Westports for equity stakes. PTP is located in the southern Johor province while Westports is one of the two operators at Port Klang near the capital Kuala Lumpur. A senior official from China Shipping’s Malaysia office confirmed the negotiations to Fairplay, but stressed it was only a ‘feasibility study’. Affiliate China Shipping Terminal Development Co Ltd is holding talks on the issue. China Shipping Container Line “hubs” in Westport at present, but is also weighing options of moving over to PTP, which has emerged as Malaysia’s biggest transhipment hub. Westport is majority controlled by Malaysian interests and 30% owned by Hong Kong’s Hutchison Port Holdings. PTP, which competes with giant Singapore for transhipment cargo, is 70% owned by Malaysia Mining Corp controlled by tycoon Syed Mokhtar. Denmark’s AP Moller Maersk owns the rest of the equity at 30%. PTP’s other major customer is Evergreen Marine, but needs another big shipping line to utilise its growing capacity.
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