| The Star, December 30th,
2002-WESTPORT hit over 2 million
TEUs last week, an achievement,
which the emerging container
port is proud of in view of
the current challenges in the
global economy.
The port grew from 1.45mil
last year to over 2mil TEUs
last week.
In the last three months, its
volume was an average of 185,000
boxes, which adds up to a volume
of 2mil TEUs per annum.
"We are very satisfied with
the progress of Westport in
the last five years, growing
from 100,000 to two million
in a very competitive environment,"
said its executive chairman
Tan Sri G Gnanalingam.
He said the environment was
not altogether conducive for
such growth and they were pleased
with the progress in spite of
:
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the currency
crisis of 1998, |
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worldwide economic crisis
thereafter. |
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the improved performance
and capacity of Northport, |
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the emergence of the Port
of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP),
which also absorbed 300,000
transhipment boxes belonging
to Maersk Sealand and Evergreen;
and |
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the competitive positioning
adopted by Port of Singapore
Authority (PSA) this year
with a virtual subsidy of
S$400mil to please the mainline
operators. |
Gnanalingam said Port Klang
had done well to grow from the
27th position in 1995 to the
12th position in the year 2000.
"A target of the top 10 ports
is going to be difficult with
the emergence of Shanghai and
Shenzen ports, whose growth
is tremendous," he said.
He added that Port Klang's
main role in the future would
be as the country's national
gateway and t achieve a good
mix of 50% hinterland cargo
and 50% transhipment cargo.
"Local cargo can now grow by
10% to 15% every year and it
is unlikely to decline.
"Transhipment however can grow
by 1,000% and equally decline
by 100% or totally disappear.
"The biggest threat will be
competitive alternatives both
in terms of economy and efficiency.
As such a 50/50 mix is desirable,"
said Gnanalingam.
On the working collaboration
between Westport and Northport,
he said the two ports currently
had clearly defined market strengths
and clients and it was unlikely
that any client would find one
port as an alternative to the
other.
"As such there is no purpose
in undercutting. Before Westport
came on the scene, Northport
only had 1.5mil boxes. Today
Northport has 2.5mil boxes.
"Both Northport and Westport
have grown in the last five
years," he added. |
