PSA Singapore International released its 2018 operations review concerning Southeast Asia volumes, Northeast Asia, Middle East South Asia, European and the Mediterranean, and the Americas.
- Southeast Asia:
The volumes at PSA Singapore increased by 8.9% in 2018, reaching a record throughput of 36.3 million TEUs.
PSA Singapore achieved a significant milestone with the completion of Pasir Panjang Terminal’s (PPT) final phase in the first quarter of the year. The city terminals continued their focus serving intra-Asia trade and providing dock depot and automobile logistics services.
Joint collaborations were also improved in 2018, with COSCO-PSA Terminal adding two new berths, while MSC-PSA Asia Terminal started operating its seventh berth in November 2018. In the following month, PSA and Ocean Network Express (ONE) signed an agreement to launch a four-million TEU capacity terminal in 2019.
Following its sustainability goals, PSA Singapore converted several rubber-tyre gantry (RTG) cranes to Electric Automated RTGs. They went on trial in November 2018, handling volumes at terminals alongside automated rail mounted gantry (RMG) cranes.
The development of the future Tuas Port is on schedule with the first two berths at Phase 1 expected to be operational in 2021.
In Thailand, Eastern Sea Laem Chabang Terminal attracted new shipping services from several lines, while Vietnam’s SP-PSA International Port continued to explore other container and non-container opportunities.
- Northeast Asia:
PSA’s Northeast Asia region handled a volume of 20 million TEUs with 9% growth in 2018 and record volumes in Fuzhou, Lianyungang, Qinzhou and Tianjin.
Beibu Gulf-PSA International Container Terminal, Fujian Jiangyin International Container Terminal and Guangzhou Container Terminal (GCT) acquired new port equipment during 2018.
In the meantime, Tianjin Port Pacific International Container Terminal commenced operational trial of four automated electric RTGs and two automated prime movers while LYG-PSA Container Terminal successfully implemented a smart gate system that significantly reduces gate processing time.
Fuzhou Container Terminal (FCT) and GCT added a new yard while FCT also commissioned a cold chain warehouse.
Also, PSA extended its reach into the hinterland with several intermodal corridors that connect China United International Rail Containers Co., Limited’s (CUIRC) inland railway terminals such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming and Zhengzhou to PSA’s coastal terminals in 2018.
- Middle East South Asia
PSA in India registered 13% year-on-year growth, in part boosted by record throughput at Chennai International Terminals (CITPL) and Bharat Kolkata Container Terminals (BKCT).
The relaunching of trains between CITPL and Concor’s Inland Container Depot in October 2018 boosted the reduction of trucking time, adding to savings in logistics costs and environmental benefits.
India’s first Containerised Digital Exchange Platform (CODEX) was successfully implemented at Tuticorin Container Terminal in October 2018. Jointly developed by Tuticorin Customs, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust and the Tuticorin chapter of the National Association of Container Freight Stations, the Platform automates and digitally streamlines container movements at the port.
- Europe & the Mediterranean
In Belgium, PSA Antwerp accommodated numerous deepsea and feeder shipping services.
Throughput at MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET) hit a new record at about 7% growth.
In October 2018, Antwerp Terminal Services centralised barge planning and monitoring operations, hence simplifying and optimising the planning cycles of barges in the Port of Antwerp.
The Italian PSA Voltri-Pra employed 21 new electric RTGs as part of the terminal’s infrastructural modernisation program.
PSA Sines in Portugal moved nearly 1.8 million TEUs, setting a new benchmark. The terminal welcomed the 20,568-TEU vessel Madrid Maersk in August 2018 – the largest to call at the Port of Sines.
Mersin International Port in Turkey grew by 8.2% to turn in a record throughput for 2018. It also expanded its fleet of terminal equipment during the year.
- The Americas
PSA marked its first foray into Canada with a 60% acquisition in Ashcroft Terminal to provide inland terminal services.
Exolgan Container Terminal in Argentina continued to enjoy strong market share, registering a 24% throughput increase to reach a new high in container volume in 2018.
Consequently, a construction of a new warehouse is expected to be completed in the end of 2019.
PSA Panama International Terminal posted good growth with the completion of its Phase 2 expansion. It also welcomed Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) on board as a new customer.
Over in Colombia, Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce welcomed new shipping services and invested in new infrastructure, including expansion of the container yard.
