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Container throughput down nearly 6% during first half of 2013
DP World’s container throughput fell nearly six percent in the first half of 2013 following a slow start to the year in the both the European and Asia Pacific regions.
The Dubai-based firm handled 26.6 million TEU at its global portfolio of terminals during the six months ending June 30th, representing a fall of 5.8 percent when compared to the corresponding period the previous year. However, when adjusted for changes across the portfolio, the decline was 2.1 percent on a like-for-like basis, according to the world’s third largest terminal operator.
“Despite a softer first half when compared with the same period last year, we saw an encouraging uplift in containers handled during the second quarter,” said DP World chief executive, Mohammed Sharaf.
“This uplift, whilst positive, has occurred in challenging market conditions which we anticipate will continue into the second half.”
“We maintain expectations of like for like container throughput in line with 2012 with our portfolio positioned toward the faster growing emerging markets and stable origin and destination cargo,” added Sharaf.
Despite lower volumes during the first-half of the year in not only the European and Asia Pacific regions but also in the Indian Subcontinent, Africa and the Middle East, DP World said that this was mitigated by a strong performance at the companies facilities located in the Americas and the Australia region, where volumes jumped 2.7 percent year-over-year.
DP World’s portfolio of consolidated terminals handled 12.8 million TEU during the first half of 2013, a decline of 5.7 percent when compared to the same period in 2012, while consolidated volumes declined 3.9 percent.
