KUALA LUMPUR: Westports Holdings Bhd
is projecting a single-digit growth rate in container volume in 2026 as the global economy sustains its positive growth momentum.
The port operator posted a net profit of RM998.31mil in FY25, up 11% from RM897.98mil in the previous year, as revenue swelled 33% to RM3.12bil from RM2.34bil in the previous year.
Stripping out construction revenue, the group's operational revenue was up 12% year-on-year to RM2.55bil, underpinned by higher container revenue.
Earnings per share rose to 29.25 sen from 26.33 sen.
According to the group, front-loading amplified 2025's container growth momentum, and some reversion to the average is to be expected in 2026.
"The unwinding of the Red Sea diversion, container shipping capacity that would likely outweigh demand, and the cascading effects of deploying larger container ships to more routes without the accompanying feeder fleet renewal or expansion, could further unsettle the tight equilibrium conditions within the supply chain and container ports.
"Nevertheless, the Company’s most significant exposure to Asia’s economic dynamism is expected to support its current, and broad-based long-term container volume growth trajectory, it said in comments accompanying its results filing with Bursa Malaysia.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, Westports recorded net profit of RM273.11mil, a 6% increase from RM256.65mil in the year-ago quarter. Quarterly revenue leapt to RM1.06bil, a 57% improvement from RM675.43mil in the same 2024 quarter.
The board of directors declared a second interim dividend of 11.92 sen per share, of which a dividend reinvestment plan approved at the 2025 annual general meeting will apply to 2.38 sen per Westports share, representing 20% of the dividend.
