KARACHI: The cargo handling, including export and import, at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) remained brisk in the financial year 2016-17, as the port broke its own record by handling 52.49 million tons as against 50.05 million tons handled in 2015-16.

Similarly, container handling closed at 2.11 million TEUs (twenty equivalent units: equivalent to 20 feet container box size) whereas the same remained at 1.96 million TEUs during the same period of last year, said a KPT statement here on Wednesday.

Cargo handling break up shows that the port handled 37.17 million tons of import and export dry cargo. Last year, the volume was 34.59 million tons.

The liquid bulk cargo of import and export closed at 15.32 million tons.

The ships traffic also improved during the financial year 2016-17 with arrival and departure of 758 container ships against the last year's 738 container ships.

The KPT also made available deep draft berths and as a result larger vessels had been accommodated with more volume of cargo.