Gulftainer buoyed by 14 per cent rise in container volumes

Sharjah's Gulftainer said yesterday that container volumes at its Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) grew by 14 per cent in the first half of the year, buoyed by robust trade with East Africa, and new projects and developments in Sharjah.
Gulftainer said that the terminal signed up more than 20 new consignees and "organically grew its market share" during the first six months of the year, putting it on track to beat its throughput targets for this year.
The company, the largest privately-owned ports operator in the Middle East, attributed the Sharjah terminal's strong performance for the period to a steady growth in import volumes of textiles, electronics, spare parts and tyres.
"The positive performance of SCT is led by the improved trade climate, specifically between the UAE and African nations," said Gulftainer's managing director Peter Richards. "The port continues to be a popular choice for shipping lines as it offers a flexible and cost-efficient alternative to access the UAE hinterland."
The company also noted that the terminal had introduced an online application system to automate information exchange between the Sharjah Port Authority, Customs and Gulftainer, reducing delivery times.
Gulftainer, part of the Crescent Enterprises group, is the second largest ports operator in the UAE, behind Dubai's DP World. Gulftainer does not disclose financial data.
The Sharjah-based company also operates the ports facilities in Khorfakkan, Hamriyah and Ruwais, and has facilities abroad in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon and Brazil.
Most recently in June, Gulftainer announced that it had secured a 35-year concession to manage Port Canaveral's container and cargo terminal in Florida, which would mark its first expansion into the US. The company plans to invest $100 million into a new terminal there, which is expected to open in the fourth quarter of this year.
Gulftainer's Florida acquisition is part of larger plans at the company to operate 35 shipping terminals by 2020 to exploit growing world trade.
Gulftainer has applied to US foreign-investment authorities for approval of the deal.
Duncan Hunter, a Republican congressman from California who chairs the House subcommittee on coastguard and maritime transportation, has written to the US treasury secretary Jack Lew, raising security concerns over a Middle Eastern company operating a US cargo terminal.
In December, Mr Hunter suggested that in the event of a war with Iran, the US should deploy a "massive aerial bombing campaign" then use "tactical nuclear weapons" to destroy Iranian nuclear facilities.
Mr Hunter's move on the Gulftainer issue is reminiscent of objections raised by members of congress over the prospect of DP World owning and managing a series of US ports as part of its £4 billion (Dh24.35bn) takeover of the British maritime group P&O in 2006, eventually forcing their sale.
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