Sharjah Update Sharjah business & Investment News from Invest in Sharjah (Sharjah FDI Office)
Related Articles
Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) recorded 14 per cent growth in container volumes during the first half of 2014, compared with the same period last year. The terminal, located at Port Khaled in the heart of the city of Sharjah, is operated by Gulftainer, the largest privately owned terminal operator in the Middle East. Gulftainer also operates Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) on Sharjah’s east coast and an inland container depot which on the emirate’s border with Dubai, providing an alternative location for clearing cargo.
The strong performance of SCT, Gulftainer’s longest running operation, was underpinned by a steady growth in import volumes of textiles, electronics, spare parts and tyres. According to the Sharjah-headquartered port management company, the growth in volume was due, in part, to the robust trade route with East Africa and, in general to new projects and developments in Sharjah.
“The positive performance of SCT is led by the improved trade climate, specifically between the UAE and African nations,’ said Gulftainer Managing Director Peter Richards. “The terminal has been growing at a fast pace recording a sustained increase in cargo volumes over the last 12 months. SCT is well-positioned to meet the growth in traffic and will continue to maintain its high productivity standards by ensuring our customers have an efficient and quick turnaround of services at the port.”
SCT recently introduced an online application to automate information exchange between the Sharjah Port Authority, Department of Seaports and Customs and Gulftainer. The new system streamlines the movement of containers through the port and has already helped to reduce shipment delivery times for consignees.
Established in 1976, the Gulftainer Group is privately-owned by the UAE-based conglomerate Crescent Enterprises and also manages ports and logistics businesses in Pakistan, Brazil, Lebanon, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Gulftainer’s US subsidiary recently signed a 35-year agreement with Port Canaveral in Florida to operate the port’s new container and multipurpose sea cargo terminal, which is expected to begin operations in the last quarter of 2014.
Source: Gulftainer
Read: Khorfakkan port receives new container service – August 20, 2014
Read: Port Canaveral, Florida signs 35-year agreement with Gulftainer – June 25, 2014
