DP World reports 10.5% container volume growth in Q1 2014

DP World Limited will today hold its Annual General Meeting for the year ended 31 December 2013. DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem will make the following statement regarding operational performance in the first quarter of 2014, the Company said Monday in a press release.
 
DP World Limited handled 14.3 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) across its global portfolio of container terminals during the first quarter of 2014, with gross container volumes growing by 10.5% on a like-for-like1 basis. On a reported basis gross volumes grew by 11.6% as new volumes from London Gateway (UK) and Embraport (Brazil) contributed to the portfolio, benefitting the reported numbers.

First quarter growth was largely driven by an improved performance from our Asia Pacific, India and UAE terminals, with Europe continuing to show signs of improvement. The UAE delivered a very strong quarter handling 3.6 million TEU, representing growth of 17.5%. At a consolidated  level, our terminals handled 6.8 million TEU during the first quarter of 2014, a 12.8% improvement in like-for-like3performance. On a reported level, consolidated volumes showed slightly softer growth at 9.1% due to the divestment of CT3 (Hong Kong) in March last year.

“As anticipated, we have seen a return to volume growth in 2014 due to the addition of new capacity and a pick-up in global trade in the first quarter. We are encouraged by the volumes handled at our flagship Jebel Ali port, with the 1 million TEU expansion of Jebel Ali’s Terminal 2 contributing to the strong result."

"The addition of 4 million TEU capacity with Terminal 3 opening this year will ensure we are well placed to handle future capacity demands in Dubai. “Our key developments at Nhava Sheva (India) and Rotterdam (Netherlands) remain on schedule for delivery and we recently commenced construction at Yarimca in Turkey, where we anticipate adding approximately 0.8 million TEU capacity in the second half of 2015," the report said.

DP World is a leading international operator of marine terminals and provider of logistics and related services. DP World has a portfolio of more than 65 marine terminals across six continents(1), including new developments underway in India, Africa and the Middle East. Container handling is the company’s core business and generates more than three quarters of its revenue. In 2013, DP World handled more than 55 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units). With its committed pipeline of developments and expansions, capacity is expected to rise to more than 100 million TEU by 2020, in line with market demand.