Westports Handles More Container Volumes

Westports Holdings Berhad Malaysian port operator Westports Holdings Berhad has seen an increase in its container operations as the company handled 2.4 million TEUs during the first quarter of 2016. The company said that the transhipment container volumes increased to 1.8 million TEUs, while the group handled 0.6 million TEUs of gateway containers. Conventional throughput in first quarter was 2.6 million tonnes, while cement volume increased by 15%. 2016 has started on a positive note as Westports achieved another milestone by handling higher quarterly container volume of 2.4 million TEUs in the midst of challenging economic outlook and modest regional economic growth, Ruben Emir Gnanalingam, the Chief Executive Officer of Westports, said. Westports CEO further said that the company has embarked on the Container Terminal 8 (CT8) expansion which would cost a total of RM1.1 billion. Phase 1 of CT8 with 300-metre of wharf will commence operations by the middle of this year. Westports operational revenue improved by 13% to MYR 436 million (USD 110.4 million) when compared to the corresponding period a year earlier, mainly attributed to an increase in container and marine operations.