Increased economic activity in Malaysia could result in cargo throughput increasing by 29% at Port Klang and Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy has predicted.
Riding on first-half growth, volumes could increase to a combined 9.7 million 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs), the minister said.
He told The Edge Financial Daily he expected Port Klang's throughput this year to increase to 5.2 million TEUs from 4.8 million TEUs last year, while PTP would handle between 4-4.5 million TEUs, up from 3.5 million TEUs in 2003.
The growth could be attributed to increased manufacturing in the country and the subsequent rise in activity at the ports, the minister said.
PTP posted its highest-ever first half throughput, handling 2.01 million TEUs, an increase of 25.3%.
Port Klang's throughput increased by 11% to 2.61 million TEUs, up from 2.35 million TEUs in the first half last year.
The minister said he expected Port Klang and PTP to maintain their positions as the 12th and 16th largest ports in the world.