Container Thoughput

The total throughput achieved by WIT for 2009 was 251,028 TEUs, an increase of 90,991 TEUs or 57% over that of 160,037 TEUs for 2008. Of the 251,028 TEUs handled in 2009, 57,730 TEUs (2008:45,451 TEUs) or 23% (2008: 28%) and 193,298 TEUs (2008:114,586 TEUs) or 77% (2008: 72%) were attributed to Wuhan sourced and transshipment cargos respectively.

The high growth in container throughput is mainly due to three sources, namely general economic growth, government policy to encourage the recommencement of direct sailings to Yangshan Port in Shanghai (江海直達) and a major shipping company’s decision to use the WIT Port as its mid-stream transshipment hub to facilitate its cargo movements along the Yangtze River.

General Cargo

Throughput of general cargo for 2009 was 143,231 tons, an increase of 3% over 2008.

Agency & Logistics

The agency and logistics businesses continue to make important contributions to the revenue of the Group in 2009. Revenue from these sources accounted for 45% of turnover (2008: 31%).

New Port & Logistics Facilities

Being a ports and logistics company operating in a high growth economy, the Group’s strategy is twofold – expanding the volume of business on the operations side and at the same time constructing new facilities to cater for growth.

The implementation of this strategy, which will create enterprise and shareholder value in the long term, could only be achieved at the expense of short term profit due to higher depreciation and interest charges.

Phase I of the WIT Port

WIT Phase I is completed and operational. Construction of additional bonded and warehousing facilities shall be undertaken as demand for integrated logistics services increases.