PSA International voted World's Best container terminal operator again

The Straits Times, April 26, 2007


Singapore Terminals unit also clinches 'best container terminal in Asia' accolade

PORTS operator PSA International has once again been voted the world's best container terminal operator.

This is the third consecutive year it has pipped rivals such as Hong Kong's Hutchison Port Holdings to take the crown.

Its flagship Singapore Terminals was also voted the best container terminal in Asia - for the 18th time - for terminals handling more than four million standard containers a year.

The Singapore company received these accolades last night at the 21st Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards ceremony held in Macau.

At the same ceremony, Singapore won the title of 'Best Seaport in Asia' for the 19th time in the awards' history.

The annual event is organised by Hong Kong-based industry newspaper Cargonews Asia, which polled more than 12,200 readers to select the best in 42 industry categories.

This year, PSA was once again pitched against its traditional rivals, Hutchison and Dubai-based DP World, in the 'Best Global Container Terminal Operating Company' category.

PSA Singapore Terminals, on the other hand, fought off competition from Hong Kong International Terminals and Malaysia's Port of Tanjung Pelepas.

PSA International group chairman Fock Siew Wah noted that the company has come a long way since it started as a terminal operator in just Singapore.

PSA invested in its first overseas port project only in 1996, he recalled in a press statement.

Since then, the company has expanded to the point where it is involved in 25 port projects in 14 countries, making it one of the world's leading port operators.

The awards bear testimony to the hard work and dedication of the PSA team, Mr Fock said.

'More importantly, they signify that we have continued to be relevant, useful and reliable to our customers, and they are happy with how we have customised our services for them.'

In the same statement, PSA International group chief executive Eddie Teh added that the company remains committed to 'best-in-class services and successful partnerships'.

Last year, PSA handled about 51.3 million standard containers worldwide in its ports in countries spanning Belgium, China, Panama, Pakistan and the Netherlands.

PSA Singapore Terminals alone handled 24 million standard containers last year, as the world's largest container transshipment hub.