WESTPORT: Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd expects to handle about 200,000 cars this year following its tie-up with Toyufuji Logistics Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

Westports executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam said he expected revenue at the port to be boosted with this new business as port handling charges averaged RM70 per unit.

“We are targeting an increase from 40,000 units last year to 200,000 this year,” he told reporters after the official opening of Toyofuji Logistics by Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah yesterday.

Giga Malaysia Sdn Bhd is the other vehicle logistics operator at Westport.

Toyofuji Logistics is a subsidiary of Toyofuji Shipping Co Ltd, Japan, which was established in 1964 as Toyota group’s exclusive shipping company.

Its terminal management services include the administration of its two yards and also liasing with Toyofuji’s agent, Sunship Agencies (M) Sdn Bhd.

Meanwhile, Toyofuji president Kunio Komada said the company’s business relationship with Malaysia started in 1974 when it started transporting Toyota manufacturing parts from Japan to Port Klang for overseas assembly.

Over the years, UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd had become one of its most valued customers and the establishment of Toyofuji Logistics was aimed at providing more sophisticated vehicle logistics services at Westports, he said.

Gnanalingam also said the port was targeting to handle a total five million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) this year, on the back of an increase in world trade. For the first five months, it had already handled two million TEUs.

On the impact of the higher crude oil prices, he said while this would affect the port, it planned to boost revenue by increasing volume and productivity.


The Star, 17.06.2008
by Eileen Hee