Kaohsiung box throughput increases 6.6% in 2014

The final throughput figure for last year saw the port authority achieved its 2014 target of 10.4m teu.

The Kaohsiung port authority noted that the recovery of the global and domestic economies had brought about a 7.5% growth in import/export cargo volumes, while transhipment cargoes grew by 5.6% year-on-year on the back of higher Southeast Asia and North America volumes.

The box throughput growth was also attributed to the completion of wharf upgrading work and new facilities to accommodate larger ships.

In 2015, Kaohsiung port is working towards a moderate throughput growth of 3% to 3.5%, as some terminals undergoing upgrading may affect the capacity and some services at Kaohsiung may be transferred to other ports in Taiwan, according to a port spokesman.

The latest project at Kaohsiung port is the Container Terminal Number 7 Project. The spokesman said the project includes five deepwater berths that can cater to 22,000 teu containerships. The first berth is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017.

“Several global container terminal operators and liners have contacted us,” the spokesman told Seatrade Global, adding that they have expressed interests to further discuss potential partnerships.

In September 2014, Kaohsiung port completed the deepening of draughts for wharves at container terminals 3 and 4, and upgrading works at wharf 115. The upgraded wharf 115 is now able to concurrently accommodate two 14,000 teu containerships.