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China Merchants Port's H1 box volumes surge 9pc to 50m TEU

A RECOVERING economy helped China Merchants Port (CMPort) to a 9 per cent rise in first half throughput to 50.2 million TEU, from 46.1 million TEU previously, which in turn led to a 9 per cent rise in pre-tax profit contribution from the core ports segment of HKD5.9 billion (US$754 million) and accounting for 79 per cent of total profits.

Meanwhile bulk cargo volume at the group's ports also grew 15 per cent to 249 million tonnes from 217 milion tonnes, previously. Overall first half net profit rose 86 per cent to HKD3.1 billion the company said in a stock market announcement.

The group's ports in Mainland China contributed relatively stable container throughput growth, rising 10 per cent to 37.9 million TEU, but this was made up for by better numbers in the dry bulk business which saw volumes handled by its ports rise 15 per cent to 246 million tonnes, making up the bulk of its dry bulk volumes, according to Seatrade Maritime News of Colchester, UK.

The group's ports in Hong Kong and Taiwan saw throughput spike 21 per cent to 3.7 million in the first half although this was off a low base with dismal figures for this segment last year.

Perhaps hampered by its apparent mission to invest in very undeveloped regions, China Merchants Port's overseas ports saw flat growth, with throughput at 8.5 million TEU almost unchanged from the same period last year.

While container throughput at its major overseas ports such as Colombo International Container Terminals in Sri Lanka and Kumport in Turkey did well, rising 21 per cent and 13 per cent to 1.1 million TEU and 310,000 TEU. respectively, some of the more esoteric investments in Africa seemed to struggle from the weight of their operating environment.

Throughput at Lome Container Terminal in Togo plunged by almost half from an already low level to 360,000 TEU while throughput growth at Tin-Can Island Container Terminal in Nigeria was understandably almost flat at 200,000 TEU. Throughput at Port de Djibouti in Djibouti fell 4 per cent to 480,000 TEU in the first half.

Looking ahead, China Merchants Port believes "the industry has entered a phase of structural recovery" and expects the traditional peak season in the third and fourth to bring recovery. Recovery in shipping industry demand, further consolidation, and an expected improvement of utilisation of dry bulk shipping capacity are the key factors that will lead to improving shipping rates, it added.

As the shipping industry recovers, it expects the port industry to record "restorative growth throughout the year", the group concluded.