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In line with
the recent expansion of trade between Malaysia and China, Northport at Port
Klang has been recording dramatic increases in the container traffic.
Northport, which has also emerged as a preferred logistics hub for shipping
lines serving the China trade, handled a total of 117,000 TEUs in the first
six months of this year, fully reflecting the estimated 20 per cent increase
in the trade between China and Malaysia recorded in July/July period.
Exports to China in July rose to RM2.13 billion, with exports making up
RM1.9 billion, comprising electrical and electronic products as well as
steel products and palm oil.
The increase in the volume of containers handled further affirms an upward
trend in the traffic between Malaysia and China at Northport which in 2002
recorded a hefty 99 per cent increase totaling 243,000 TEUs over the
previous year.
Inbound containers from China rose by 10.1 per cent to 74,600 TEUs in the
first half of this year compared with 67,800 TEUs in the corresponding
period of last year.
Laden import from China registered 32.9 per cent growth totaling about
50,000 TEUs during the period under review.
Consistent with the increase in the volume of trade between Malaysia and
China, the network of direct shipping services between Northport and Chinese
ports has continued to increase.
Among the improved level of services announced recently include P&O Nedlloyd.
Today 21 carriers links Northport with 11 major ports - Hong Kong, Yantian,
Xiamen, Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shekou, Dalian, Xinggang, Tianjian and
Longkou - with more than 170 regular weekly sailings.
Hong Kong, the world biggest container handling facility topped the list
with 80 sailings per week from Northport.
The increase in the network of shipping services has also been matched by a
growing number of direct connections and increased frequencies as well as
bigger capacity vessels.
Most of the long haul calls at Northport include at least one of the Chinese
ports in their rotation network.
For instance Grand Alliance's Transpacific service, Far East-Europe and
Mediterranean-Far East services at Northport have included five major ports
in China -Yantian, Hong Kong, Xiamen, Qingdao and Shekou - in its port of
rotation.
With direct services, better transit times, increased frequencies of the new
services, shippers enjoy the advantage of faster connections to mainline
services calling at Northport.
For transhipment, Northport offers direct connections to worldwide ports. |
