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Most
maritime players in Port Klang have experienced
double-digit drop in cargo volume in the first
two months of this year on a year-on-year basis
due to the global economic downturn.
Although many of them have embarked on
initiatives to sustain their cargo volume
throughout the year, some are still unsure about
the outlook beyond March.
Port Klang, the national maritime gateway, has
projected an average 10% fall in cargo volume
this year. Port operators there recorded a 16%
drop in cargo volume in January against the same
month in 2008.
The port posted a 12% increase in cargo volume
to 7.97 million TEUs (20-ft equivalent units)
last year.
United Arab Shipping Co (UASC) Malaysia Sdn Bhd
country general manager Desmond Yong told
StarBiz its cargo volume for January and
February dropped by 25% to 30%. UASC is a major
container shipping company based in the Middle
East.
Yong said although the volume for the first two
months was not encouraging, it had started to
show signs of revival this month.
“We have begun to see positive cargo volume
movements contributed by local companies
involved in overseas construction projects and
commodities such as palm oil, rubber and cocoa.
“These are the key factors that we expect will
sustain cargo volume at healthy levels this
year,” he said.
Yong said it would be difficult to predict the
outlook for 2009 due to the global economic
uncertainty.
“We are now managing our business plan on a
month-to-month basis until future prospects
become clearer,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kudrat Maritime Sdn Bhd, a shipping
agent representing more than 300 principals
(shipping companies) worldwide, recorded fewer
vessel calls for the first two months of this
year.
“We recorded 20% to 25% fewer ship calls for
January and February. Usually, we receive an
average 200 ship calls per month,” said its
executive director Faizul Kamaruddin.
“A large chunk of the contraction was due to
fewer calls from the dry-bulk carriers and palm
oil tankers,” he added.
To sustain the current volume, he said Kudrat
Maritime planned to embark on an aggressive
marketing initiative in the Mediterranean,
Europe and Far East.
Kudrat Maritime usually does its own marketing
in South-East Asia only. The company relies on
network alliances to carry out marketing works
in other areas.
Taipanco Sdn Bhd, a haulage operator, recorded
about 30% drop in cargo volume for the first two
months of this year.
Its executive director Nazari Akhbar said
Taipanco had started implementing cost-cutting
measures due to the slump in both imports and
exports.
“These include a freeze on new staff recruitment
and rationalisation of repair works.
“We should be able to weather the storm until
year-end but I am unsure what lies ahead next
year if the economic downturn persists,” he
said.
Source: The STAR
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