DP World Limited handled 19.7 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) across its global portfolio of container terminals in the second quarter of 2021, with gross container volumes increasing by 17.6% year-on-year on a reported basis and 17.1% on a like-for-like basis.

In a statement, the Emirati multinational logistics firm said growth in the second quarter was accelerated with all regions delivering a strong performance, especially for its terminals in India, Europe, Australia, and the Americas.

Jebel Ali (UAE), meanwhile handled 3.4 million TEU in Q2, up 4.2% year-on-year.

During the first half, DP World said it handled 38.6 million TEUs on a gross basis, with gross container volumes increasing by 13.9% year-on-year on a reported basis and 13.3% on a like-for-like basis.

At a consolidated level, its terminals across the world handled 11.4 million TEU in Q2 increasing 18.2% on a reported basis and up 17.3% on a like-for-like basis, it added.

"We are delighted to report another strong volume performance with 2Q2021 growth accelerating to 17.1% year-on-year, and up 7.3% compared to 2Q2019, which highlights the strength of the underlying market," said the group chairman and chief executive officer Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem.

"Growth continued to be broad-based with all our regions delivering robust performance, with India being exceptionally strong," he added. "Encouragingly, the recent volume improvement at our flagship port of Jebal Ali (UAE) continued into 2Q2021 with throughput growth accelerating to 4.2% year-on-year."

Near-term outlook remains positive

"Looking ahead, the near-term outlook remains positive, but we do expect growth rates to moderate in the second half of 2021. Furthermore, we remain mindful that the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical uncertainty could once again disrupt the global economic recovery," the Group CEO added.

"Overall, we continue to make good progress on our strategy to deliver supply chain solutions to beneficial cargo owners and are focused on growing profitability while managing growth CAPEX. The strong start to 2021 leaves us well placed to deliver improved full-year performance and we remain focused on delivering our 2022 targets."