[261110.EN.SEA] Maersk's APMT Eyes Asian Secondary Ports For Development

MAERSK Group's APM Terminals (APMT) appears to be targeting second tier ports in Asia, particularly China, for container development, according to London's Containerisation International.

"Secondary ports are smaller fast growing facilities with the potential to be a player in the growing intra-Asia market - these are ports we are interested in," said APMT Asia Pacific chief executive Martin Gaard Christiansen.


"We are not only examining the secondary port market in China, but also Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia to mention a few." In China, APMT is studying secondary ports' growth rates and hinterland connections in the Yangtze River Valley and the Bohai Bay area.


Already there is a memorandum of understanding in place between APMT and the Chongqing Port Authority, said the report, which added Maersk Group is considering investment in port development with a decision expected next year, Mr Christiansen told CI.


"We would like to support Chongqing develop the right infrastructure to make [it] a manufacturing hub in west China. There has been significant growth in volumes moving from Chongqing to Shanghai," said Mr Christiansen.


Chongqing is currently building phase three of its terminal, which will see overall annual capacity jump to 1.6 million TEU in 2013 from today's 800,000 TEU.


Source : HKSG, 23.11.10.