Container throughput at Westports Malaysia is forecast to rise to 7 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2012 despite global economic uncertainties, according to a top official of the private port operator located at Port Klang, Malaysia’s premier port.
Tan Sri Gnanalingam, executive chairman of the port facility, said they came up with the estimate after the port handled 600,000 TEUs in March.
He added that Westports has enough capacity to handle a large volume of container boxes and is working to raise efficiency as well as improve facilities and infrastructure to meet further growth.
Westports recorded a 20 percent growth in TEUs over the last five years and can handle up to 10 million boxes a year, said Gnanalingam. The multicargo seaport handles about 28,000 containers every day.
Gnanalingam said the company is aiming to achieve a traffic of 20 million TEUs each year and to become a major loading hub for Southeast Asia.
Photo: jgmorard
