Shipments of cargo increase by 7.3 per cent

A worker drives past containers at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Cargo shipments through Sihanoukville’s Deep Sea Port increased more than seven per cent year-on-year in 2012.

Port officials say this growth is a result of Cambodia’s economic performance and an improving global economy.

In 2012, 255,378 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were shipped through Sihanoukville, compared with 237,937 in 2011,  an increase of 7.3 per cent.

“It is a fast rate of growth compared with previous years. We had growth in all kinds of products,” Chea Sambath, chief of the port’s planning and marketing department, said, adding that Cambodia’s political stability was attracting businesses.

He said most exports through Sihanoukville were garments and agricultural products, especially milled rice.

The main products imported were raw materials, vehicles, pharmaceutical equipment, medicine and consumer products.

“Last year, exports of milled rice increased a lot – that’s a good sign for the industry,” Sambath said.

“We also experienced an increase in imports, as a lot of raw materials came in.”

Director-General Lim Bunheng said rice miller Loran Import-Export had exported about 20,000 tonnes via the Sihanoukville port last year.

“I always export my products via that port, because we can send them directly to their destination,” Bunheng said. “Big amounts go to Europe, the US, Africa and Asian countries.”

The port is one of three state-owned enterprises planning to list on the Cambodia Securities Exchange this year, but Sambath could not give a time frame for the float.

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