UAE region drives DP World’s container traffic

30 October 2012

Global throughput at DP World’s ports fall in third quarter

Dubai-based port operator DP World reports that its ports in the UAE region handled 3.4 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers in the third quarter.

This marks an increase of 4.6 per cent in consolidated container throughput for the first nine months of the year in the UAE, compared with the same period in 2011.

However, gross container throughput across DP World’s global portfolio of terminals fell by one per cent in the third quarter, with 14.2 million TEUs recorded.

The decrease in volume was partly due to DP World divesting a number of joint venture terminals, according to the port operator.

DP World pulled out of its joint ventures in the Port of Aden in Yemen in September, as well as Tilbury in the UK and Australia’s Adelaide port in January and July respectively. The operator also announced on 22 October that it has sold its share in Russia’s Port of Vostochny, one of the country’s largest terminals.

Taking into consideration the divestments made by the company, throughput across DP World’s consolidated portfolio fell by 0.7 per cent for the third quarter, although volumes for the first nine months of this year grew 0.3 per cent.

According to DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the savings made by selling off certain port assets will be reinvested in the planned expansion of Jebel Ali and the London Gateway project in the UK.

DP World is anticipating an increase in throughput at its Jebel Ali port in Dubai, with Terminal 2 set to open next year, adding a further one million TEUs in capacity to the port.

 

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