DP World to ramp up capacity by 3m teu by year end

The new capacity will be spread across DP World’s portfolio of ports in nine countries and will take the operator’s total gross capacity to 93.6 million teu.

“We have to take a longer-term view of global economics, looking at how demand will change and how we can meet it in the most efficient way,” said Tiemen Meester, COO Ports & Terminals, DP World.

“Our medium-term target is to reach 100 million teu a year, subject to demand.”

Trade enabler

Key expansions will be completed this year in Caucedo (Dominican Republic), including an additional 1.2million teu, Yarimca (Türkiye) projected an additional 579,000 teu, Sokhna (Egypt) adding 500,000 teu, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) with an additional 200,000 teu, among other key markets.

Alongside the physical expansion, the projects also focus on digitalisation – implementing new technology and modern terminal operating systems, (TOS) which will further increase capacity by automating and streamlining operations within each port.

For example, in March, DP World announced the first commercial use of its revolutionary BOXBAY high-bay storage system at the Pusan Newport Corporation (PNC) terminal in South Korea. The addition of the technology will allow PNC to boost its efficiency even further.

When it comes to new capacity, DP World is set to commence operations at Indonesia’s 600,000 teu Belawan New Container Terminal (BNCT) in North Sumatra by the end of the year.

It is also working on the project to develop, operate and maintain the Tuna-Tekra mega-container terminal at Deendayal port on the western coast of India. Once complete, the terminal will include a 1,100-metre berth and handle 2.19 million teu/year, helping unlock future container traffic growth in India.