Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) achieved a 6 per cent increase in container handling in the first six months this year, compared to the same period last year.
It handled a total of 1,471,660 TEUs during the period.
results support DPA's long-held belief that competition is a healthy force which inevitably boosts productivity levels, said Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza) chairman and DPA managing director Sultan Bin Sulayem.
He said: "DPA has been able to maintain its leading position by directing its focus to differentiating its operations from other terminals. As a customer-drive authority, our dedication to quality services has strengthened our relationship with our customers resulting in substantial growth."
Bin Sulayem feels that the DPA's continued lead comes from well-established relations with over 100 shipping lines. This has also contributed to the extension of its reach to other ports in the region.
"A considerable investment in infrastructure development and technology are also responsible for its unparalleled regional success. The ability to anticipate customer needs through innovative IT solutions has played a leading role in achieving customer satisfaction and making the ports more competitive on a global basis," he said.
Another key factor noted by Bin Sulayem is the lesser dependence on transshipment cargo by the DPA. In the first half of the last decade, transshipment was about 60 per cent of DPA's operations. Over the last two years this figure declined to 50 per cent and is now recorded at 42 per cent. This strategic restructuring of the ratio between local and transshipment cargo, accompanied with the successful increase in the total volume of business, has redirected DPA away from over-dependence on the unpredictable transshipment sector and built on the solid foundations of the local market.
The rapid growth of Dubai as a commercial hub for the region has led to the massive development of trade and industrial projects, contributing to the growth of cargo through the DPA.
Bin Sulayem emphasised that due to the growing competition in the region, the survival of container terminals will become increasingly dependent on customer service.
