YILPORT Holding had Another Year of Outstanding Business Results in 2017
2017 was the year of huge business results and consistent growth at Yilport Holding, port management and logistics subsidiary of Yildirim Group. The terminals handled 4.3 million TEU containers in 2017, reporting 9.5% year-on-year container volume growth compared to 2016 performance.
Yilport Holding reported a 9.5% year-on-year increase in container throughput for the full year of 2017, led by its 10 container handling terminals in Turkey, Scandinavia, Iberia, and Latin America. Gross container volume for Yilport Holding increased to 4.3 million TEU in 2017, displaying 9.5% increase on 2016’s 3.93 million TEU volume. The main drivers of growth were Turkey’s growing seaborne trade and Swedish exports.
In Turkey, the volume increase was driven by the strong export performance of the Turkish economy. Yilport Gebze, Yilport Holding’s home terminal in Turkey, recorded 501,284 TEU for 2017 that reflects 26% increase on 2016 volume. Yilport Gemlik closed the year with 474,019 TEU, 30% more than 2016, supported by ongoing port expansion.
Yilport’s Nordic container terminals in Sweden and Norway also displayed strong growth. The volume increase was driven by strong Swedish core export market growth, and the terminals absorbed volume from competitor’s corridors during labor disputes. Gävle Container Terminal (GCT) in Sweden and Sjursøya Container Terminal (SCT) in Norway accumulated 465,000 TEU in 2017, and Yilport’s consolidated Nordic growth is 14% compared to 2016 volumes.
In Yilport’s Iberian terminals, volume has grown by 6%. This is based on the consolidation of Yilport Ferrol, Yilport Leixões, Yilport Figuera da Foz, Yilport Liscont, Yilport Sotagus, Yilport Setubal, and Yilport Huelva. The consolidated volume for Yilport’s terminals in Spain and Portugal was 1,176,496 TEUs in 2017. Yilport Leixões, the leading terminal of the Iberian portfolio, closed 2017 with 625,542 TEUs. Lisbon terminals were drivers of growth, Liscont recording 233,497 TEU in 2017, 25% more than 2016, and Sotagus recording 160,886 TEU with 37% growth.
Yilport took over Puerto Bolívar of Ecuador when the concession period started in March 2017, and the banana exporting port’s addition to the Latin American portfolio positively added to the regional growth. Yilport Latin America Puerto Bolívar in Ecuador and Port of Paita in Peru handled 111,700 TEU in 2017, displaying 9% growth compared to 2016.
In 2017, Yilport also recorded 9.5 million tons of general cargo volume, 364,100 CEU ro-ro operations, and 3.67 million cubic meters of liquid cargo volume. Yilport also owns 50% shares in Malta Freeport (MFTL), which recorded 1.576 million TEU equity-based volume.
High expectations for 2018
Yilport is looking forward to 2018 with aggressive organic growth outlook across all operations. The container volume is budgeted at 4.73 million TEU by 10% growth. General cargo operations in Yilport’s portfolio is expected to reach 12.1 million tons, growing by 28%. 417,000 CEU ro-ro operations are also budgeted for 2018. Liquid cargo handling is expected to contract by -4% to 3.53 million cubic meters.
Yilport’s marine terminals portfolio includes 5 terminals in Turkey, 7 in Portugal, 2 in Sweden, 2 in Spain, 1 in Norway, 1 in Malta, 1 in Peru, and 1 in Ecuador. In addition, Yilport’s dry terminals portfolio includes 3 in Gebze, and 2 in Gemlik in Turkey, and the Stockholm Nord Dry Terminal in Sweden. Yilport’s consolidated annual handling capacity is calculated over 10 million TEUs in containers, 22 million tons of dry bulk and general cargo, 2.15 million cubic meters of liquid cargo, and ro-ro capacity of 1,000,000 CEUs.
Yilport’s consistent growth is also acclaimed by the industry. According to Drewry’s Global Container Terminal Operators Annual Review and Forecast 2017 report, Yilport Holding is listed in the 13th place among international container terminal operators.