DP World, a global marine operator, handled 14.3 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) across its worldwide portfolio of container terminals during the first quarter of 2014, with gross container volumes growing by 10.5 per cent on a like-for-like basis, said the company’s chairman.

“On a reported basis gross volumes grew by 11.6 per cent as new volumes from London Gateway (UK) and Embraport (Brazil) contributed to the portfolio, benefitting the reported numbers,” said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem ahead of the DP World’s Annual General Meeting for the year ended December 31, 2013.

“First quarter growth was largely driven by an improved performance from our Asia Pacific, India and UAE terminals, with Europe continuing to show signs of improvement. The UAE delivered a very strong quarter handling 3.6 million TEU, representing growth of 17.5 per cent.

“At a consolidated level, our terminals handled 6.8 million TEU during the first quarter of 2014, a 12.8 per cent improvement in like-for-like performance.  On a reported level, consolidated volumes showed slightly softer growth at 9.1 per cent due to the divestment of CT3 (Hong Kong) in March last year,” he added.

“As anticipated, we have seen a return to volume growth in 2014 due to the addition of new capacity and a pick-up in global trade in the first quarter. We are encouraged by the volumes handled at our flagship Jebel Ali port, with the 1 million TEU expansion of Jebel Ali’s Terminal 2 contributing to the strong result.  The addition of 4 million TEU capacity with Terminal 3 opening this year will ensure we are well placed to handle future capacity demands in Dubai,” Bin Sulayem explained.

“Our key developments at Nhava Sheva (India) and Rotterdam (Netherlands) remain on schedule for delivery and we recently commenced construction at Yarimca in Turkey, where we anticipate adding approximately 0.8 million TEU capacity in the second half of 2015.

“Overall, we are very pleased by the portfolio’s first quarter performance which shows we have the right capacity in the right locations. Despite a solid start to the year, macro-economic conditions across some locations remain uncertain, however, we believe we are well positioned to outperform the market which is forecast to grow at approximately 5 per cent in 2014.

“As always, we remain focused on driving profitability by targeting higher margin throughput while containing costs and improving efficiencies. We remain confident of meeting full year market expectations,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service