WESTPORT Malaysia’s cargo-handling services have been favourably endorsed by two prominent users of its dry bulk cargo facilities.

Giant US trading house Cargill Inc, among the largest grain handlers at the port, said Westport has not stopped improving its services.

Cargill has a global revenue of about US$59 billion (US$1 = RM3.80) a year and has been doing business in Malaysia since 1982 dealing in feed mills, feed and animal nutrition and grain distribution.

Cargill’s general manager in Malaysia Freddy Yap said its partnership with Westport would bring the grain industry to greater heights.

He said Cargill wants to continue collaborating with the port in making it the port of choice in the ocean freight chartering community.

Yap is also confident of Westport meeting the US company’s increasing demand, such as preparing itself to handle larger vessels of the future.

Productivity at Westport has increased in recent times. It set a fast port standard of discharging dry bulk cargo at 15,000 metric tonnes a day from 3,000 metric tonnes previously.

The port handled 3.8 million tonnes of dry bulk cargo in 2003 and expects volume to increase to 4.2 million this year.

Another port user, Central Sugar Refinery (CSR), said it is also benefiting from Westport’s improved operational efficiency. CSR is the largest supplier of sugar in Malaysia.

It imported 507,000 metric tonnes of dry sugar last year through Westport.