Westport Holdings Berhad (Westports) saw its TEU volume increase by 11% in Q2 2021 despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, an achievement it partly attributed to its yard utilisation investment.
It said it handled more transhipment and gateway throughput than usual, with traffic reaching 3.4 million TEU and 1.9 million TEU respectively. Additionally it, saw an active level of container yard utilisation as the global supply chain remained stretched, with occasional port congestions at various terminals across the globe.
Westports continued to enhance its container and conventional operational capabilities. The Company invested RM118.5 million ($28 million) in the first 6-month of 2021.
Westports purchased additional terminal operating equipment and progressed in constructing a new jetty for the Liquid Bulk Terminal and a new 19-acre container yard to support more extensive throughput requirements.
Datuk Ruben Emir Gnanalingam bin Abdullah, the Group Managing Director of Westports, said 2021 has brought momentously challenging conditions.
“The active yard utilisation reaffirmed the Company’s decision to invest and complete container yard Zone Z at CT9 at the cost of RM81 million in 2020. By the end of 2021, Westports will complete an additional 19-acre Container Terminal Yard 8.
“The Company is still investing in more Terminal Operating Equipment to strengthen the overall terminal handling capacity. The Suez Canal and Yantian events highlighted the reliance of global economies and livelihoods on the moving-floating global supply chain.
“Westports is cognizant of its role in Malaysia and the region and has planned to undertake and build the mega Container Terminal from CT10 to CT17 upon reaching a new concession agreement with the Government.
“This is also our ongoing commitment to improving the competitiveness of Port Klang in Southeast Asia as a transhipment hub”.
