APM Terminals BV. is trying to attract more business from shipping lines other than its sister unit Maersk Line.
While announcing its 2007 worldwide throughput, the global ports operator highlighted that 34% of volumes were handled for customers other than Maersk Line – more so than any other year to date.
APM Terminals BV. chief executive officer Kim Fejfer said they are already servicing more than 60 shipping lines globally “and whereas the commercial relationship with Maersk Line remains strong, we are furthering our relationship with other major shipping lines as well to ensure we serve their needs best possible now and in the future.”
APM Terminals has reportedly been having difficulty being regarded as a common-user terminal operator, and many industry players are convinced that it has a clear preference for Maersk Line business over other carriers.
Recent news that APM Terminals is set to serve Evergreen Line at its new US east coast facility in Virginia was thus seen as a major breakthrough for the Danish-owned ports operator.
Several reports said that the Taiwanese liner has confirmed that discussions between the two sides are at an advanced stage, with a preliminary understanding reached.
A move by Evergreen would be a coup for APM Terminals as it struggles to distance itself from sister company Maersk Line.
APM Terminals' huge 484-acre Pier 400 facility in Los Angeles, with capacity to handle some 2.3 million TEUs per year, is also looking for third party customers.
“We are actively marketing our excess capacity,” said John Ochs, APM Terminals Pacific managing director.
2007 revenue for APM Terminals increased by 22% while profits from terminals that have been operating more than a year grew by 30%.
The company has a large presence in the US market, where volumes dropped by 9% in 2007. Volumes rose by 20% in the rest of the portfolio, leading to a 13% volume growth for APM Terminals globally.
Weighted by ownership share, 31.4 million TEUs were handled in 2007.
While announcing its 2007 worldwide throughput, the global ports operator highlighted that 34% of volumes were handled for customers other than Maersk Line – more so than any other year to date.
APM Terminals BV. chief executive officer Kim Fejfer said they are already servicing more than 60 shipping lines globally “and whereas the commercial relationship with Maersk Line remains strong, we are furthering our relationship with other major shipping lines as well to ensure we serve their needs best possible now and in the future.”
APM Terminals has reportedly been having difficulty being regarded as a common-user terminal operator, and many industry players are convinced that it has a clear preference for Maersk Line business over other carriers.
Recent news that APM Terminals is set to serve Evergreen Line at its new US east coast facility in Virginia was thus seen as a major breakthrough for the Danish-owned ports operator.
Several reports said that the Taiwanese liner has confirmed that discussions between the two sides are at an advanced stage, with a preliminary understanding reached.
A move by Evergreen would be a coup for APM Terminals as it struggles to distance itself from sister company Maersk Line.
APM Terminals' huge 484-acre Pier 400 facility in Los Angeles, with capacity to handle some 2.3 million TEUs per year, is also looking for third party customers.
“We are actively marketing our excess capacity,” said John Ochs, APM Terminals Pacific managing director.
2007 revenue for APM Terminals increased by 22% while profits from terminals that have been operating more than a year grew by 30%.
The company has a large presence in the US market, where volumes dropped by 9% in 2007. Volumes rose by 20% in the rest of the portfolio, leading to a 13% volume growth for APM Terminals globally.
Weighted by ownership share, 31.4 million TEUs were handled in 2007.