by NUR HANANI AZMAN / pic by TMR FILE

WESTPORTS Holdings Bhd’s net profit improved 30% year-on-year to RM163.49 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2020 (Q420) due to higher container revenue and lower operational cost.

Growth in container throughput pushed up revenue to RM541.54 million, from RM452.82 million previously.

Its Group MD Datuk Ruben Emir Gnanalingam said the above-average container yard utilisation and yard congestion in the Q420 not only affected Westports but also many ports across the globe.

He said the global supply chain is adjusting to a combination of factors, such as higher consumer demand for containerised goods in Western economies, lockdowns in various parts of the world at different points in time and a global supply chain partly manned by people implementing Covid-19 precautionary measures.

“The direct and secondary long-tail effects of Covid-19 will continue to be felt in 2021 despite the gradual ramp-up in vaccinations.

“This will have a redistributive effect on society. The pandemic is a reminder of the importance of social contribution to the community,” he said in a statement.