DP World’s 2011 container volumes rise 10 per cent to 55 million TEU

Global marine terminal operator DP World today announced another record year for container handling, with over 54.7 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units) handled across its global portfolio in 2011, an increase of 10 per cent year-on-year.

Like for like volume growth was equally strong at 9 per cent when compared with last year.

''Our portfolio of consolidated terminals handled 27.5 million TEU during 2011.  Had our five terminals in Australia not been deconsolidated from 12 March 2011, the consolidated terminals would have delivered 9 per cent growth ahead of the prior year.  Like for like growth across our portfolio of consolidated terminals was 8 per cent,'' D P World said in a release.

The growth was driven by a 12 per cent volume growth in the UAE region, handling 13.0 million TEU for the year. D P World said the UAE region delivered a record performance culminating in 16 per cent volume growth in the final quarter of 2011.

D P World said its operations in Asia Pacific, Africa and the Americas as also new capacities from its terminals in Karachi, Pakistan and Vallarpadam in India showed good performance.

''DP World delivered another strong performance in the final quarter of the year despite the macro economic uncertainty.   These results are a reflection of our continued focus on those regions which are seeing strong trade growth in addition to the continued focus by all our terminals on providing customers with a first class service when they call at DP World terminals,'' chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said.