WAN HAI AND INTERASIA ACHIEVE TWO MILLION TEUs AT NORTHPORT

PORT KLANG, 19 December 2024 – Northport (Malaysia) Bhd (“Northport), a member of MMC Group, celebrated a historic milestone today as the Taiwan-based shipping lines, Wan Hai Lines (M) Sdn. Bhd. (“Wan Hai”) and Interasia Lines (M) Sdn. Bhd. (“Interasia”) successfully achieved a combined throughput of two million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) in a single year at Northport.

“Wan Hai has recorded remarkable growth since achieving its one million TEUs milestone in 2015 at Northport. Meanwhile, Interasia has established a strong presence and is steadily increasing their market share at Northport. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to both Wan Hai and Interasia on this significant achievement of two million TEUs. This milestone reflects the growing strength and potential of Intra-Asia trade, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to support the expansion plans of our partners.” said Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd (“MMC Ports”).

Wan Hai commenced its Singapore/Malaysia service at Northport, (then known as Klang Container Terminal or KCT) in 1989 and has grown significantly ever since, now being Northport’s biggest customer in terms of container throughput. Meanwhile, Interasia commenced operations at Northport with the introduction of its Indonesia/Malaysia Express service in 2006. Today, Interasia is one of Northport’s top customers.

The Chief Representative of Wan Hai Lines Malaysia, Marvin Lin, said, “Northport and Wan Hai have shared a strong partnership since 1989, navigating decades of growth and challenges together, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. During this time, the global shipping industry experienced significant changes, including fluctuations in space availability and container supply, which presented new challenges. Wan Hai and Northport have worked hand in hand to adapt and address these challenges effectively.”

He added, “Port Klang remains a crucial transshipment hub for Wan Hai, and we are delighted to celebrate this remarkable achievement of two million TEUs with Northport. With the addition of our newly built vessels in the coming years, we are confident that Wan Hai and Northport will continue to grow and embark on an exciting new chapter together.” 

Meanwhile, President of Interasia Lines Taiwan, Jeff Lo said, “Interasia Lines deeply appreciates the consistent support and excellent service provided by Northport throughout our partnership. Over the years, Northport has demonstrated a strong commitment to operational excellence, making it an important partner in our growth journey. We remain enthusiastic and optimistic about the future, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with Northport and MMC Ports to achieve even greater success together”.

Wan Hai currently has 15 services calling at Northport, while Interasia has 11 services calling at Northport with various partner groups including Wan Hai, KMTC Line (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sinokor Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Unifeeder Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., COSCO SHIPPING Lines (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, BTL Shipping & Forwarding Sdn. Bhd. and Ocean Network Express (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. From January to November 2024, Wan Hai and Interasia recorded throughput growth of 11% and 15%, respectively, at Northport compared to the same period in 2023.

“This achievement is a testament to Northport’s importance as one of the main ports in the region. The growth also highlights Wan Hai and Interasia’s successful expansion and strong maritime logistics strategy. We are committed to providing top-tier port services and facilities to achieve continuous productivity improvement to support our customers’ growth,” added Dato’ Azman.

Northport continues to invest in infrastructure and facilities to remain competitive in the global maritime industry. Recently, Northport announced the acquisition of four units of Super Post Panamax Container Handling Ship-To-Shore Gantry Crane from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. to enhance its terminal handling capacity and improve operational efficiency.

“Our continued commitment on enhancing port infrastructure and facilities demonstrates our unwavering dedication to meeting the evolving needs of global shipping lines. We aim to create a seamless experience for our customers, enabling them to benefit from increased productivity, operational excellence and improved connectivity,” said Dato’ Azman.

Dato’ Azman, the former CEO of Northport, assumed his new position within MMC Group as CEO of MMC Ports, effective 1 December 2024. MMC Ports is a holding company for its subsidiaries that operate five ports across Peninsular Malaysia, namely Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Johor Port in Johor, Northport in Selangor, Penang Port in Penang and Tanjung Bruas Port in Melaka.

The business of MMC Ports and its subsidiaries also includes a solid product jetty terminal in Johor, ship-to-ship transfer services in Port of Yan in Kedah, and cruise terminals in Penang, Port Klang and Langkawi.