An official report has monitored a 20 percent increase in the container traffic of Egyptian ports in 2014 compared to last year.
The report pointed out that the container terminal of the East Port Said Port achieved a movement rate of 3.5 million containers compared to 3.1 million in 2013, while the port of Sokhna that is run by DP World scored 600,000 compared to 511,000 in 2013.
Suez Canal Container Terminal Executive Director Klaus Larsen said East Port Said is projected to hit 5.5 million containers in 2016.
At the first Maritime Transport Media forum, Larsen said Egypt has potential but needs to prepare itself more.
“I see for the first time plans being implemented on the ground and not just on paper as in the past,” he said. “Without a container movement, the Egyptian economy will be affected.”
He said 25 million containers were transported in the last 10 years for 16,000 ships, adding that US$700 million were invested in East Port Said, yielding $54 million from container handling and LE260 million from customs. “We expect $85 million from container handling in 2015,” he said.
DP World Deputy Executive Director Ibrahim Al Hammadi said his company is committed to supporting Egypt economically. “We are part of the Egyptian society,” he said.
He also said that Sokhna is a prime location for ships passing in the Red Sea and a gateway to global trade. “We are prepared to receive the new generation of ships,” he said.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
