KUALA LUMPUR: Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) registered a strong terminal growth after hitting 9.8 million TEUs total throughput, the highest in 2020, despite global economic uncertainties and health pandemic.

The record represents an increase of more than eight per cent growth at the back of 9.1 million TEUs recorded in 2019.

PTP chairman Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said in spite of global health crisis and economic uncertainties, PTP continues to further strengthen its position as one of the main transshipment hubs in the region and deliver the best value and services to its customers and all stakeholders.

He said last year, PTP invested more than RM700 million in an effort to improve its container handling capacity, capability and reliability by procuring additional eight super post panamax quay cranes, 10 electrified rubber tyred gantries (ERTG) and the dredging of the port's navigation channel to ensure new generation of ultra large container vessels (ULCV) ships can safely navigate to the port. 

"By investing in our assets, we are further establishing our terminal as one of the best equipped and most technologically advanced terminals in the region and will ensure that PTP can keep up with the rapid changes in the port and shipping industry and subsequently meet the growing demand of our customers" he said.

PTP is a joint venture between Malaysia's MMC Group and the Hague-based APM Terminals.

PTP chief executive officer Marco Neelsen said the trajectory growth derives at the back of the surge in extra transshipment calls volume receives by the port due to the increase demand in Asia and Europe as well as requests from customers to increase their throughput in PTP.

"Despite some challenges during Q2 (second quarter) of financial year 2020, the second half of the year went very positive for PTP with an upsurge of volume due to the opening of countries' borders and the reviving of the global trade economy for China, Transpacific and Europe regions.

"PTP's readiness and proactive drive to handle these demands have definitely cushioned the downside scenario and impact of sluggish global trade saw earlier as a result of Covid-19 outbreak and the measures taken by countries to halt the pandemic," he said.

PTP recorded a string of record-breaking terminal performance throughout 2020 including accomplishing the latest all – time highest record for TEUs handling in a month with 967,783 TEUs as well as the highest moves in a single shift with a total of 12,411 moves (19,984 TEUs) last December.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2021/01/660381/ptp-records-8pc-growth-after-registering-98mil-teus-throughput-2020