Container traffic growth in Port Klang, the country's largest port, is expected to increase 6% this year, similar to the pace of last year, Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager Captain David R. Padman said, reports TheSunDaily.
The port expects to handle 10.1 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) of containers this year, driven by on-going expansion in capacities by Northport and Westports, which will support volume handled in future, and aggressive marketing and promotional activity by the two terminal operators.
Total container volumes handled in Port Klang grew 7% to 9.5 million TEUs last year compared with 8.9 million TEUs in 2010. Some 66% or 6.3 million TEUs of Port Klang's container volume in 2011 was from Westports. Northport accounted for the remaining 34% or 3.2 million TEUs.
"There is long-term commitment by mainline operators calling at Port Klang which have made it their transshipment hub. We are also helping to market the port to Eastern European countries to bring awareness to the facilities available here," David told SunBiz in an interview.
The authority is also doing promotional activities in Asia to promote intra-Asia trade.
He said Port Klang's container volume constitutes a good mix of indigenous and transshipment cargo and this gives the port an advantage to sustain main line operators and feeders calling at the port.
David said the growth of transshipment boxes is encouraging, with Port Klang predicting a double-digit growth this year compared with an 8% increase in 2011.
Port Klang's market share stood at 47.5% of the country's top ports in 2011, followed by Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Johor. Port Klang was ranked the top 13th container ports of the world in 2010 and has trade links with over 180 countries and more than 500 ports.
Today, Port Klang has a capacity of handling 12 million TEUs per year, of which Northport has the capacity to handle 5 million TEUs and Westports the remaining 7 million TEUs.
While a plan to develop a third terminal in Port Klang has been proposed under the Port Klang Development Master Plan 2010-2030, David said the current capacity at Northport and Westports is able to serve demand up to 2018.
Nonetheless, aware of capacity issues, David said the two existing terminal operators – Northport (Malaysia) Bhd and Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd – have undertaken work to expand their facilities.
Westports has embarked on a RM3.18 billion expansion project, which includes reclaiming 160ha of land that is expected to be completed by next year and the construction of four container terminals slated for completion in 2016.
Northport, meanwhile, has allocated RM272 million under its immediate-term plan to acquire container handling equipment. The amount is part of the total investment of RM1.3 billion planned for the port's physical expansion and purchase of equipment.
The port expects to handle 10.1 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) of containers this year, driven by on-going expansion in capacities by Northport and Westports, which will support volume handled in future, and aggressive marketing and promotional activity by the two terminal operators.
Total container volumes handled in Port Klang grew 7% to 9.5 million TEUs last year compared with 8.9 million TEUs in 2010. Some 66% or 6.3 million TEUs of Port Klang's container volume in 2011 was from Westports. Northport accounted for the remaining 34% or 3.2 million TEUs.
"There is long-term commitment by mainline operators calling at Port Klang which have made it their transshipment hub. We are also helping to market the port to Eastern European countries to bring awareness to the facilities available here," David told SunBiz in an interview.
The authority is also doing promotional activities in Asia to promote intra-Asia trade.
He said Port Klang's container volume constitutes a good mix of indigenous and transshipment cargo and this gives the port an advantage to sustain main line operators and feeders calling at the port.
David said the growth of transshipment boxes is encouraging, with Port Klang predicting a double-digit growth this year compared with an 8% increase in 2011.
Port Klang's market share stood at 47.5% of the country's top ports in 2011, followed by Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Johor. Port Klang was ranked the top 13th container ports of the world in 2010 and has trade links with over 180 countries and more than 500 ports.
Today, Port Klang has a capacity of handling 12 million TEUs per year, of which Northport has the capacity to handle 5 million TEUs and Westports the remaining 7 million TEUs.
While a plan to develop a third terminal in Port Klang has been proposed under the Port Klang Development Master Plan 2010-2030, David said the current capacity at Northport and Westports is able to serve demand up to 2018.
Nonetheless, aware of capacity issues, David said the two existing terminal operators – Northport (Malaysia) Bhd and Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd – have undertaken work to expand their facilities.
Westports has embarked on a RM3.18 billion expansion project, which includes reclaiming 160ha of land that is expected to be completed by next year and the construction of four container terminals slated for completion in 2016.
Northport, meanwhile, has allocated RM272 million under its immediate-term plan to acquire container handling equipment. The amount is part of the total investment of RM1.3 billion planned for the port's physical expansion and purchase of equipment.