Singapore-listed HPH Trust's main Shenzhen terminal in Yantian YICT, saw throughput rise 9% to 12.9m teu, while its Hong Kong terminals of HIT, COSCO-HIT and ACT, collectively grouped under HPHT Kwai Tsing, saw combined throughput increase by 5% to 11.4m teu.
"The overall trend for outbound cargoes to the US and EU was positive in 2017 and continued to maintain their growth momentum in the fourth quarter of 2017," HPH Trust said. In fact, YICT’s full year throughput growth was mainly attributed to the growth in the US and transshipment cargoes.
Meanwhile the increase in HPHT Kwai Tsing’s throughput was largely due to stronger transshipment cargoes, the port operating trust said.
Revenue and other income however fell slightly to HKD11.6bn ($1.5bn) from HKD11.9bn previously and predictably the proportion of revenue from the Hong Kong terminals continued to slide from 2016.
Looking ahead HPH Trust said: "The global trade outlook remains positive in 2018 benefitting from the continued growth in economic activities in the US, Europe, China and India although this, by and large, is still susceptible to the uncertainties and downside risks arising from geopolitical tensions and the increasingly populist and nationalist tendencies in policy-settings and negotiations."
It concluded: "Against these settings, with a strategic transshipment hub in Hong Kong, the exemplary mega-vessel handling capabilities of YICT and our strategic investment in state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, HPH Trust is well positioned to support the changing requirements of the container shipping industry and maintain its reputation as the preferred gateways to the vast Pearl River hinterland."
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