DP World reports higher container volumes

CEO says company is well positioned despite uncertainties from “geopolitical headwinds and recent changes in trade policies.”    DP World said its container terminals handled 35.6 million TEUs in the first half of 2018, 4.8 percent more than in the same 2017 period. Volumes in the United Arab Emirates were 7.7 million TEUs, up 0.2 percent.
   “The first half of 2018 continues to see an upswing in global trade and all three DP World regions delivered growth, particularly our terminals in Europe and Australia,” the company said.
   Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the chairman and chief executive officer of the company, said the company’s growth is “an affirmation of our strategy to deploy relevant capacity in key markets and operate a diversified portfolio. We are pleased to see our terminals in Europe and Australia continue to deliver growth and still expect to see increased contributions from our new investments in the second half of the year.
   “Whilst geopolitical headwinds and recent changes in trade policies continue to pose uncertainty to the container market, first-half volume performance demonstrates that our portfolio is well positioned to deliver growth,” he said.