Johor Port Ends 2020 On A High Note Despite COVID-19
- January 7, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JOHOR PORT ENDS 2020 ON A HIGH NOTE DESPITE COVID-19
JOHOR BAHRU, 7 JANUARY 2021 – Johor Port Berhad (Johor Port), a member of MMC Group finished strong in 2020 by surpassing 1 Million Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEUs) amid the COVID- 19 pandemic.
“We are very pleased to see that despite the headwinds of COVID-19 as well as a shortage of empty Containers in Malaysia and other parts of the region which affected the overall Port business and related industry sectors, Johor Port still managed to progress its business efficaciously and surpassed the 1 Million mark for year 2020,” commented Md Derick bin Basir, Chief Executive Officer of Johor Port Berhad
In the 1st Quarter of 2020, Johor Port had a remarkable performance with a YoY growth of 6%. However, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the Port’s business for three months consecutively. With the re-opening up of industries on 4 May 2020, export volume had regained back its momentum as manufacturers stepped up their production to meet the pre-Movement Control Order. In the context of Johor Port, the export and import volume has shown some improvement this year mainly due to the strong support of Gateway cargoes.
The majority of the Gateway volume were derived from the production by major industry players. Johor Port had also managed to secure 4 new services in the year 2020 mainly to the Intra-Asia region. The Terminal also managed to entice Sealand to bring in a new service to cater for their short-haul cargoes. Apart from the traditional Gateway business, Johor Port has also encouraged ad-hoc calls and mini transshipments which provided additional volume to the Terminal.
Operational improvements have also contributed to productivity improvement and Yard efficiency which resulted in a better Gross Moves Per Hour (GMPH) of 22 cranes Gross Moves Per Hour as opposed to previous years where the Terminal had been consistently operating at a GMPH figure of 20 crane moves per hour.
“We remain optimistic on our growth prospects throughout the year, as we witnessed global trade recovering gradually. While we are expecting a long recovery period of between six months to an entire year, Johor Port is committed to ensuring business continuity and for the Port to be managed well throughout this volatile time,” added Md Derick bin Basir.
Ports and Terminals represent a doorway to maximise the country’s economic development and is a crucial lifeline that interconnects local communities to the regional and global markets. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) expects Maritime trade growth to return to positive territory and expand by 4.8% in 2021, assuming the world economic output recovers. Nevertheless, the Maritime transport industry will need to be prepared to brace for any economic uncertainty in the post-COVID-19 world.
Despite the economic uncertainty, Johor Port has leverage through its strategic positioning as a major Regional Commodity Hub which connects ASEAN to the Intra-Asia region as well as a competitive edge in its customer segmentation, which includes shipping lines, Non-Vessel Operation Common Carriers (NVOCC), manufacturers and logistics operators. As a full-fledged Multi-Purpose Port with wide shipping connectivity, Johor Port is living up to its position as the main Gateway to the Asia Pacific region with direct calls to Intra-Asia destinations.
Photo caption: Johor Port Berhad finished strong in 2020 by surpassing 1 Million Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEUs) despite a turbulent environment for global trade amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABOUT JOHOR PORT BERHAD
Johor Port Berhad, a Member of MMC Group is an integrated multi-purpose port facility located at the southern tip of Peninsula Malaysia providing a comprehensive range of port services to meet the individual needs of its customer. Commencing operation in 1977 as the original Southern Gateway Multi-Purpose Port in Malaysia, Johor Port currently operates a total area of 1,000 acres, 660 acres of which are designated as Free Zone.
With 24 berths and a total berthing length of 4.9 km, the services and facilities within Johor Port include the Container Terminal, Bulk and Break Bulk Terminal, Liquid Terminal and Warehousing Facilities. As the 1st port in Malaysia to be accorded with Free Zone status, Johor Port is the appointed Free Zone Authority for the management of its Free Zone area.
Johor Port is the largest Palm Oil terminal in the world and was designated as an approved London Metal Exchange (LME) location in 2004. Johor Port is also one of the largest discharging points for Rice and Cocoa in Malaysia as well as being one of the biggest Terminals in Malaysia for Fertilizer and Cement.
For more information, please visit http://www.johorport.com.my/
ABOUT MMC CORPORATION BERHAD
MMC Corporation Berhad (“MMC”) is a leading utilities and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under four divisions, namely Ports and Logistics, Energy and Utilities, Engineering, and Industrial Development.
Its key businesses under the Ports and Logistics division includes the port operations of Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd and Kontena Nasional Berhad, a logistics provider. Internationally, MMC has presence in Saudi Arabia via Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company Limited, a container port terminal within the Jeddah Islamic Port.
Under the Energy and Utilities division, Malakoff Corporation Berhad is the largest Independent Power Producer in Malaysia and its subsidiary, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, is one of the leading environmental management companies in the country. Under Gas Malaysia Berhad, MMC is the supplier of reticulated natural gas in Peninsular Malaysia operating and maintaining 2,468 kilometres of gas pipeline. Through Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, MMC provides full-fledge water services using high technology treatment in Malaysia.
MMC’s Engineering Division has played a leading role as the Project Delivery Partner and underground works package contractor in completing 51 kilometres Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (“KVMRT”) Kajang Line (previously known as Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) including 9.5 kilometres underground works. Currently, MMC is the main turnkey contractor for 52.2 kilometres KVMRT Putrajaya Line (previously known as Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line). MMC has also successfully completed the 329-kilometre Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Tracking Project as well as the innovative Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (“SMART”) motorway, the first of its kind, dual-purpose tunnel in the world. MMC is currently in the final stage of completing the Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant (which will serve 920,000 Population Equivalent) and Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant (which will supply 1,130 Million Litres of treated water Per Day).
MMC’s Industrial Development Division develops and manages approximately 5,000 acres of industrial developments namely Senai Airport City (“SAC”) and Tanjung Bin Industrial Park (“TBIP”) in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor and Northern Technocity (“NTC”) in Kulim Kedah. The SAC, TBIP and NTC developments come under the ambit of MMC’s Industrial Development division, operating under three companies namely Senai Aiport City Sdn Bhd, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Northern Technocity Sdn Bhd.
In other business, through Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd, MMC is the operator of Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru – the southern aviation hub and an important gateway to Iskandar Malaysia.
Enquiries
Please log on to www.mmc.com.my or call:
Norhidawati Yahaya, Manager, Corporate Communications, Johor Port Berhad
Tel: +607 2535 888 ext 672
Email: norhidawati@johorport.com.my
Azlina Ashar, Head of Group Corporate Communications, MMC Corporation Berhad
Tel: +6019 6688 990 / +603 2071 1124
Fax: +603 2026 2431
Email: azlina.ashar@mmc.com.my
