Dubai-based marine terminal operator DP World has announced that it handled over 27.7m TEU (20-foot equivalent container units) in 2008, an increase of 15 per cent on the previous year.
However, although volume growth was very strong in the first half of the year, the worsening economic situation impacted volumes in the final few months of the year, the company revealed.
Mohammed Sharaf, Chief Executive of DP World commented: “2008 has been another solid year of growth for DP World as we have continued to grow volumes across the majority of our terminals, despite the increasingly challenging macroeconomic environment in the second half of the year.
“It is too early to comment with any certainty on the outcome for 2009, but we believe our proactive approach to cost reduction and our strong focus on efficiency and customer service will help to mitigate the impact on profitability.”
