[120314.EN.SEA] APMT Sees 3pc Volume Growth In 2013 With Capacity Boost

APM Terminals, the terminal operating arm of the AP Moller-Maersk group, achieved three per cent year-on-year volume growth in 2013 after handling 36.3 million TEU.

The increase came as the company raised its invested capital to US$6.1 billion to fund work on seven new terminals and upgrades to 16 operational facilities, which returned 13.5 per cent on its invested capital, reported Seatrade Global.

Capacity was added following the November opening of the new 1.2 million TEU Brasil Terminal Portuario (BTP) at APM's 50 per cent-owned Port of Santos in Brazil.

The company also acquired an equity interest in Russian terminal operator NCC Group Ltd through Global Ports Investments, in which APM Terminals has a 30.75 per cent co-controlling share.

In addition, the company secured a new deepwater terminal project in Izmir, Turkey, capable of handling 1.5 million TEU annually, and a terminal project at the Port of Abidjan, Ivory Coast with an annual throughput capacity of two million TEU.

"We are making good progress toward our goal of becoming the recognised industry leader, and we will continue to invest in infrastructure in underserved and high-growth markets to provide the services our customers require as global trade continues to expand," said CEO Kim Fejfer.

Source : HKSG.