Sharjah-based ports operator Gulftainer recorded 23.75 per cent growth in traffic at its Sharjah facilities during the first five months of 2010 compared to a year before.

The Sharjah terminals, which include Khorfakkan Container Terminal and Sharjah Container Terminal, handled 1.25 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) between January and May.

Gulftainer operates both terminals on behalf of the Sharjah Port Authority.

The Sharjah terminals handled a total of 2.75 million TEUs in 2009, marking 10 per cent growth from 2008 volumes. Officials at Gulftainer expect to achieve a double-digit growth in the volume of containers handled in 2010.

The company expects volumes to reach more than three million TEUs this year.

Gulftainer also operates three berths at Umm Qasr port, which is Iraq’s only deep-water port (MEED 18:4:10).