Lack of container yards in Pusan

Space capacity for 1 million TEU container boxes is expected to be short even though Kamman container expansion plan will be completed in the second half of this year, and the Yangsan Inland Container Depots fully work.

The Korea Container Terminal Authority unveiled on Jan. 30 that the handling capacity in the Port of Pusan could reach only 6.76 million TEU involving the container yard in the terminal as well as the ODCY (Off Dock Container Yard). However, cargo-handling expectations at the Port of Pusan this year are estimated at around 8 million TEU, resulting in about a 1.3 million TEU shortage. Terminal capacity for each terminal was revealed to total 3.85 million TEU, including the Pusan East Container Terminal for 1.3 million TEU and the Kamman Terminal for 1 million TEU. ODCYs near the harbor may store 1.92 million TEU and the Yangsan ICD can possibly handle 1 million TEU.

Even though the Kamman On Dock Container Yard, available for 380 thousand TEU, will be operating from next year and the Yangsan ICD will be on track, being responsible for 1.4 million TEU, increases in cargo growth ratio expectations leave no storage room for 2 million TEU annually. The authority worried that Pusan might lose credibility if it cannot handle a third of its total cargoes and if ODCYs in charge of around 1.6 million TEU close later this year. It suggested ODCYs might be sustained by 2007 when the Pusan New Port opens, keeping Pusan's dominant harbor role.