Port Said terminal boosts market share
Despite the economic downturn, the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) in Egypt has increased its container volumes by 11 percent in 2009 and has boosted its market share which is good news ahead of a completed expansion, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to Maersk.
Located in Port Said East near the mouth of the Suez Canal, SCCT is part of APM Terminals' global terminal network, and was officially opened in December 2004.
In 2009, the Suez Canal terminal increased its throughput of containers to 2.7 million TEUs (Twenty foot Equivalent Unit - a container 20 feet long) which is a new record, despite the fact that the level of transit through the Suez Canal was 20 percent lower.
"The results achieved are strong, especially in light of the drop in global trade. It is results like these that are part of the reason why terminals is an investment focus for the Group," Nils S. Andersen, Group CEO, says after visiting the terminal at the end of January.
The terminals success stems from a great location that saves the shipping lines costs and a quick and reliable operation that offers a diverse product to the container lines in the market, according to managing director of the terminal, Jens Floe.
"The future market will remain very competitive, but we expect to succeed based on our value proposition. For us, this means a strong commercial focus and being able to quickly adjust to new market conditions," Jens Floe says.
He also highlights the terminals ability to handles the latest generation of vessels and a superior ability to handle containers as well as a balanced client portfolio.
Key business area
Nils S. Andersen visited the terminal as part of his recent tour of the Groups activities in the Middle East.
"The regions of the Mediterranean and the Middle East are key areas for many of the business units in the Group, and it is important to me to talk with the people who are intimately familiar with their business area, their market and their customers. People who can provide input on how we tackle the challenges ahead," Nils S. Andersen says.
The first section of the Suez terminal expansion will go operational in August 2010, while the full expansion will be ready in 2012. Hereafter, the terminal will be able to handle 5.4 million 20 foot containers and the world's largest containerships, and with the expansion comes new challenges.
A planned rail link to the greater Cairo area is expected to boost local cargo traffic through the terminal. A second consecutive year without an increase in the Suez Canal toll structure is also projected to bring more business to SCCT as liner services return to Canal use.
Above: Left to right, Jan Buijze, SCCT Project Manager, Nils Smedegaard Andersen, Group CEO, A.P. Moller - Maersk, Haytham Helmy, SCCT Operation Manager and Jens Floe, SCCT CEO.