FRENCH shipping company CMA CGM is projecting that its container throughput at Westports Malaysia in Port Klang will achieve double-digit growth in 2009 despite the global economic slowdown.
The upbeat forecast was attributed to the company's strong network and presence in China, the deployment of more cost-efficient vessels in the next two years as well as the introduction of new services, CMA CGM & ANL Malaysia managing director Simon Whitelaw was cited as saying in a Malaysia Star report.
Year-to-date, the company has handled 2.0 million TEU at its Malaysian terminal and is on track to achieving its 2008 target of 2.1 million, which would represent an increase of 23.5 per cent compared to 2007's volume at Westports, Mr Whitelaw said on the sidelines of the symposium on Ports and Shipping New Developments in Malaysia.
He said the French shipping company regards Malaysia as having big potential owing to the country's balanced portfolio of commodities and manufacturing products as well as a steady balance of trade.
"We are quite optimistic on the direction of the company next year and expect to post double-digit growth at Westports. Among our new bigger ships set to be delivered are a vessel with 11,500 TEU capacity next week and a 13,500-TEU vessel in 2010," he was quoted as saying.
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