SIMIC

The numbers come during a year where the Covid crisis affected the industry, as the port saw 9.1 million TEU in 2019. The port is a joint venture between Malaysian-based Malaysia Mining Corporation Group (MMC) and Netherlands-based APM Terminals.

"Last year, PTP invested more than MYR700 million (US$173 million) in an effort to improve its container handling capacity, capability and reliability by procuring additional 8 Super Post Panamax Quay Cranes, 10 Electrified Rubber Tyred Gantries (ERTG), and the dredging of our navigation channel to ensure new generation of Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCV) ships can safely navigate to our port," said PTP chairman Dato' Sri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh.

"By investing in our assets, we are further establishing our terminal as one of the best equipped and most technologically advanced terminals in the region and will ensure that PTP can keep up with the rapid changes in the port and shipping industry and subsequently meet the growing demand of our customers," said Mr Noh.

Chief executive officer Marco Neelsen stated that trajector growth originated at the back of the surge in extra transshipment calls due to increasing demand in Asia and Europe.

"Despite some challenges during Q2 of FY2020, the second half of the year went very positive for PTP with an upsurge of volume due to the opening of countries' borders and the reviving of the global trade economy for China, Transpacific and Europe regions," said Mr Neelsen.

"PTP's readiness and proactive drive to handle these demands have definitely cushioned the downside scenario and impact of sluggish global trade saw earlier as a result of COVID-19 outbreak and the measures taken by countries to halt the pandemic," said Mr Neelsen.