TWO large ships docking at the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port led, in part, to a 33 percent increase in shipments in January, compared with the same month of 2010, according to port officials.

Some 6,051 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were shipped through the port last month, up from 4,547 TEUs in January 2009.

Port director Hei Bavy said the increase in cargo last month was due to increased shipping from Europe. Two large cargo ships from the continent had docked at the port in January, bringing goods such as food products, household items, and electronics, and in turn exporting rice and garments, he said.

“We don’t think the port will receive such a high increase of shipments next month, since the amount of goods that were exchanged is not stable,” he said.

However, the port has targeted an annualised 20 percent increase in shipping this year, aiming to ship 75,000 TEUs this year, from 62,256 TEUs in 2010.

Hei Bavy said increased cooperation with the Cai Map deepwater port in Vietnam, begun in July 2009, had increased shipments.