BORNEO's Biport, near the Malaysian State of Sarawak's capital of Kuching, suffered a 14 per cent drop in container volume to 251,296 TEU in 2011, port operator Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd announced.

In response to a question from Biport's major shareholder, the Employee Provident Fund (EPF), Biport CEO Mior Ahmad Baiti said the decline resulted from a fall in transshipments.

"Transshipment volume registered a drop of 32 per cent as a result of the rerouting of Sabah and Sarawak transshipment volume to PTP/Port Klang by MTT Shipping after taking over SSJ/Johan Shipping operations and HUBLine," he said, reported the Borneo Post, adding that local containers - in and out - posted a four per cent increase.

Mr Ahmad said the drop was temporary and expected an average growth of 10 to 15 per cent annually from 2012 onwards.

Biport has ordered additional handling equipment to augment the recent delivery two quay cranes and eight rubber tyre gantries.

"Apart from that, we will also continue to promote the conversion of breakbulk cargo into containers [aluminum, paper, silicon and manganese]. Additional container volume will also be generated from industries within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE)," Mr Ahmad said.

Top cargo revenue producer of 2011 was liquefied natural gas (LNG), contributing MYR354.3 million (US$115.3 million) while palm oil came second place with MYR29.2 million, overtaking containers which came in third at MYR26.2 million.