Russia’s leading container terminal operator, Global Ports Investments PLC (Global Ports) has reported growth in box volumes during the second quarter and the first half of the year.
The company’s Vostochnaya Stevedoring Company (VSC) terminal handled 138,000 TEUs during the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 23.4% from Q2 2020. At the same time, its First Container Terminal (FCT) handled 164,000 TEUs, an increase of 8.9% compare to the same period last year.
In total, the consolidated container throughput was 418,000 TEUs, a growth of 10% in comparison to Q2 2020.
As for the Group’s consolidated box throughput during the first six months of the year, there is a slight increase of 1.9% in comparison to the corresponding period of 2020.
In particular, VSC’s throughput for H1 2021 was 250,000 TEUs, which represents a year-on-year growth of 17.8%. On the other hand, FCT moved 321,000 TEUs during the first half of the year, presenting no change in comparison to H1 2020.
“VSC container handling growth in the second quarter of 2021 was 23.4% year-on-year with the terminal posting the highest monthly container volumes in its history so far this year, and we see further growth potential to come,” noted CEO of Global Ports Management, Albert Likholet.
Likholet also talked about Global Port’s decision to gradually cease coal handling at VSC and concentrate on the ports’ core strategic operations of driving container volumes.
“In the current environment, it makes strategic sense to prioritise container volumes in the Far East, delivering a lower environmental impact, which has always been at the core of our Group strategy,” he said.