Tanjung Pelepas records 20% growth in first nine months

Tanjung Pelepas records 20% growth in first nine months    The Malaysian container port of Tanjung Pelepas continued to grow rapidly in the first nine months of this year, as it continued to take market share away from the port of Singapore.
   Tanjung Pelepas said it recorded a 20 percent increase in volume in the first nine months to 3 million TEUs from 2.5 million TEUs in the year earlier period.
   Over the same period, the port of Singapore, operated by PSA, raised its volume 15 percent to 15.3 million TEUs from 13.3 million TEUs handled in the January-September 2003 period.
   Both ports handle mainly transshipment container cargoes.
   Third-quarter throughput at Tanjung Pelepas increased 11 percent to 1 million TEUs, from 913,370 TEUs in the year-earlier period.
   “The rise in volumes is attributed to the continuing global economic upturn, the increasing market share of local cargo, and the addition of new services calling at Port of Tanjung Pelepas,” the port said.
   The number of vessel calls increased 49 to 2,378 in the first nine months, up from 2,329 calls in the same period in 2003.
   In the third quarter, two berths were completed at the Malaysian port, adding some 1.5 million TEUs in handling capacity. The port said its annual capacity now exceeds 6 million TEUs