Gulftainer, the largest privately owned port operator in the world based in Sharjah, continues its magnificent performance by announcing on Sunday outstanding results for the month of January, 2012. With an overall 16.8 per cent increase in container throughput at the Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT), compared to the same month last year, the company is delighted at what has turned out to be the best ever January performance in the history of the company. The private terminal operator continues to build on its strength year after year, with a growing volume of trade despite the global economic downturn and its effect on economies in the Gulf and wider Indian Ocean region. Growth figures have shown that, Gulftainer’s UAE Terminals; Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) and Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT), recorded the highest monthly volumes both independently and combined during the 2011 period, with SCT in particular recording a 19.3 per cent annual volume increase throughout the year. Speaking about the exceptional performance in January, Gulftainer MD, Peter Richards, said: “We are delighted to have achieved such successful results for the month of January 2012. The volume increases in KCT and SCT are an obvious reflection of the trust that customers place in us.” Trade “The records set by Gulftainer demonstrate the increased volume of trade in the region and we remain very optimistic about prospects for the whole region in the coming years. As we continue through 2012, with the help and support of the Sharjah Ports Authority, we can look forward to a prosperous year ahead with more terminal operations, improved facilities and capacity, as we strive to deliver consistent operational performance to all our stakeholders,” he added. SCT, adjacent to Sharjah’s industrial area, handles containers on behalf of over 40 shipping lines, including all of the world’s top 20 companies, and accommodates over 45 per cent of the non-oil manufacturing capacity of the UAE. KCT continues to be the world’s fastest-operating container terminal whether dealing with smaller ships, or the leviathans of 13,000 teu - which can be accommodated without challenges, and handled promptly and productively in a location which is optimally located to serve the Gulf area and the Indian Ocean.