The volume of cargo handled at Quy Nhon Port in the central province of Binh Dinh has reached a record eight million tonnes so far this year.

The 8 millionth tonne arrived on Sunday on a Maersk Line tanker.

Huynh Van Phuc, a representative of Maersk Line in Quy Nhon, said since being equitised, Quy Nhon Port had been upgraded to raise its capacity and shorten the time for loading and unloading goods.

Director of the Quy Nhon Maritime Administration Vu The Quang said this year, the port had received fewer vessels, but the volume of cargo handled had increased by 800,000 tonnes from 2017 and was 300,000 tonnes over the annual target.

Chairman and Director General of Quy Nhon Port JSC Le Hong Thai said the port was expected to handle another 200,000 – 300,000 tonnes of goods in the two remaining weeks of 2018.

With its existing facilities, the port was able to handle 11 million tonnes of cargo each year, he said, noting it aimed to handle 10 million tonnes of goods in 2019.

Thai said that the port was expected to reach a revenue of more than VND705 billion (US$30.6 million), representing a rise of 28 per cent over 2017 and 13.7 per cent higher than the annual target. Pre-tax profit was expected at VND116.5 billion, up 24.2 per cent over the previous year.

He said that the results were considerably better than before 2013 when the port was privatised.

With more than 20,900 sq.m of warehouses and 48,000 sq.m for containers, Quy Nhon Port is the gateway to the East Sea for the south central and Central Highlands regions of Viet Nam, as well as countries in the sub-Mekong region. — VNS