Dubai: Gulftainer has reported a 10 per cent increase in container volumes for last year, matching the increase it posted in 2009.

The Sharjah-based terminal and logistics company UAE facilities Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) and Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) transferred 3.02 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in 2010, it said.

Managing director Peter Richards said in a statement: “We had always hoped that in 2010, we would start to see the world economy beginning its recovery from the major downturn in 2008 and 2009.

“The Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region has weathered the storm rather better than many other areas and it is clear that in 2010 the container shipping industry, trading volumes and regional economies started to look forward once again with more confidence.

“Our decision, together with our colleagues in Sharjah Port Authority, to expand our facilities, particularly at Khorfakkan, proved to be well founded as we have been able consistently to deliver the performance that lines needed to save time and money – in good times and bad,” he said.

KCT continues to be one of the world’s fastest working container terminals for smaller ships as well as leviathans of 13,000 TEU.