DP World to increase global container handling capacity

Dubai: DP World, the world's third largest port operator, is to boost container handling capacity at its terminals worldwide to 70 million units a year within a few years, from about 46.5 million at present, a company official said yesterday.

This will include a five million TEU (20-foot equivalent container units) addition at the port of Jebel Ali by the end of 2007.

"Our capacity will increase to 70 million TEUs within a few years," DP World senior vice-president and managing director Mohammad Al Muallem said.

He said Jebel Ali port's container throughput was more than the total throughput at Indian ports.

For the last four years DP World has recorded an annual growth of 20 per cent in the UAE and this year it would add one million TEUs to its 7.6 million throughput of 2005.

Under a $1.5-billion expansion plan, Jebel Ali will have a new terminal with a quay length of 2.5 km.

"Once the new terminal is ready, we will be able to handle 13 million TEUs in this area," Al Muallem said.

By July 2007, a 1.2-km quay will be completed and add three million TEU capacity to the port's capacity. The rest will be ready by the end of 2007.

DP World is involved in nine new projects worldwide and these are expected to add a total of 24 million TEU capacity when fully completed.

By 2010, the company will have 13 million TEU extra capacity at the new developments.

Terminals

"We are still looking for new areas where we can have terminals," Al Muall-em said.

In February DP World acquired British ports group P&O.

Their combined throughput at 52 terminals in 30 countries was 36 million TEUs, with around 46.5 million of potential capacity.

DP World's UAE ports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah had a capacity of 12 million TEUs last year.

Al Muallem said the Jebel Ali area will become a global logistics hub when the planned airport is built.