PTP bucks the trend with a record year

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) handled more than 6m teu for the first time in 2009, retaining its position as Malaysia’s leading container terminal. Bucking the economic trend, the achievement represented growth of 7.5% on 2008. Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman, PTP chairman, said the increase was achieved with lower overall costs, given considerable pressure on rates.

"We are fortunate to be one of very few ports to record an increase in container volumes in 2009," he said.

"While existing customers contributed with more services, new volumes from PTP’s latest signing, CMA CGM, added to the numbers. 

"There was also a 9% increase in local volumes from the Johor industrial hinterland."

Meanwhile, PSA Singapore Terminals, PTP’s main regional rival, saw throughput fall 13.1% to 25.14m teu. PSA’s terminals outside Singapore fell 7.1% to 31.78m teu, the first decline in the group’s global container throughput. Eddie Teh, PSA International group CEO, said 2009 had been a year of unprecedented hardship and challenges for the port and shipping industries. "The global economic downturn and massive slump in global trade caused a drastic drop in demand for container shipping," he said.

"PSA took urgent measures in 2009 to reset its capacity needs and reduce operating costs without compromising on the quality reliable services we provide to our shipping line customers.

"We will continue to work very closely with all our customers through these difficult times."