CCM plans aggressive expansion

CONTAINER Connections (M) Sdn Bhd (CCM), one of the leading depots in container operations management, is on an aggressive expansion plan to grow its business in the region by 2012.

The company is eyeing several markets, both in the country and Southeast Asia, to open depots namely in Kuantan, Penang, Bangkok and Laemchabang in Thailand, and Surabaya and Jakarta in Indonesia.

"The expansion is part of our three-year plan. We see huge potential in the depot business and we intend to tap it and grow further," said general manager Razak Rahman.

CCM, which has its headquarters in Singapore, provides logistic services for implementation of depot management systems in the containerisation industry, serving both domestic and international sectors.

It currently owns three depots, namely in Singapore, Pasir Gudang, Johor, and the latest being in Northport, Port Klang.

"We are spending RM8 million for the new depot, which includes purchasing new container forklifts that cost RM1.2 million each," Razak told reporters after the opening of the company's depot in Northport yesterday.

The new depot was launched by Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng.

PKA is the regulator for both Northport and Westport.

Razak said by September, a fourth depot on a 3.2ha site in Westport area will be operating to enhance the group's depot services in the region.

CCM was incorporated in November last year and has an impressive track record in providing maintenance and repair services to the shipping and leasing lines in Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia.

Its current depot has a land area of 4.8ha which is able to accommodate at least 9,800 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units).

Meanwhile, Lee said Port Klang moved 4.31 million TEUs of cargo in the January-June 2010 period, up 29.3 per cent from 3.33 million TEUs a year earlier, as the global economy recovery boosted cargo traffic.

"We project 8.2 million TEUs for the whole year, where Westport is projected to handle 5.2 million TEUs and Northport 3.0 million TEUs," he said.

By Azlan Abu Bakar