ABU DHABI's new Khalifa port expects a 20 per cent increase in container traffic next year as the emirate's nearby industrial park continues to expand, Abu Dhabi Ports CEO Tony Douglas told Zawya Dow Jones.

The dockyard, located half way between the Abu Dhabi and Dubai, started operations in September and since then more than 80 per cent of the container traffic has been transferred from Abu Dhabi's older port, Mina Zayed.

 "We are about two months ahead of our original schedule. By the end of December, all the container traffic migration will be completed," said Mr Douglas.

 The port at Taweelah, which has a capacity of up to 2.5 million TEU, but is expected to handle 800,000 TEU this year and one million TEU in 2013. Growth will be driven by the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi, known as Kizad, which opened earlier this year and already has a 25 per cent occupancy rate in its 51 square kilometres first phase.

(Source:seatrade asia online)