DP World volumes up 9.5% in Q1

based global ports operator DP World reported a 9.5 per cent year-on-year increase in gross volumes during the first quarter of 2012, from 12.6 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in Q1 to 13.8m TEUs in Q1 2012. “Across our global portfolio of marine terminals, DP World has seen a 9.5 per cent increase in gross volumes in the first quarter of 2012 handling 13.8m TEUs. Excluding the contribution from new capacity, like for like growth was 7.4 per cent,” DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said in a statement. “This growth was driven by an excellent performance in our Asia Pacific and Indian Subcontinent region which reported 14.6 per cent growth in volumes as new capacity across the region supported strong growth across our Asia Pacific portfolio,” he added. At the same time, operations at its home port of Jebel Ali continue to reap rich dividends for the operator. “Jebel Ali, UAE has continued to deliver strong volume growth handling 3.2 million TEU in the first three months of the year, 8.5 per cent ahead of the same period last year,” Bin Sulayem said. The ports operator said growth in Europe, Middle East and Africa region was 4.4 per cent, with performance in the Middle East and Africa region mitigating the ongoing challenging operating environment in Europe. “The Americas and Australia region reported growth of 8.7 per cent driven by a very strong performance in the Americas region,” Bin Sulayem added. “Our portfolio of consolidated terminals reported container volumes of 6.6 million TEU. Had our five terminals in Australia not been deconsolidated from the March 12, 2011, underlying growth would have been 5.9 per cent when compared to the same period last year,” he said. “The global macroeconomic uncertainty has continued into 2012. With our portfolio focused on the faster growing emerging markets and more stable origin and destination markets, we remain committed to delivering improved operational and financial performance over 2011”.