APM Terminals will leave Kaohsiung Terminal in Taiwan after agreeing to transfer the two piers it operates there to Hanjin Pacific.

The deal will see Hanjin Pacific, Hanjin Shipping's terminal operating subsidiary, take over APM Terminals facilities at piers 76 and 77 and combine them with its current operation at pier 78.

The two companies will operate the piers together until 7 May in order to ensure a smooth transition.

GS Choi, CEO of Hanjin Pacific and executive VP & CEO of the Terminal Business Unit of Hanjin Shipping, said: "Over the next few months, the newly expanded Hanjin Pacific terminal will be gearing up to serve some of the most important shipping lines in the world, including Maersk Line. "

'The new operations at Kaohsiung will be fully operational by the second quarter of 2010 and will double the handling capacity of existing Hanjin Pacific services."

Martin Gaard Christiansen, CEO of APM Terminals' Asia Pacific region, said the decision was part of a move to optimise its terminal network.

"Market conditions have changed and we have decided business-wise it makes sense to transfer our Kaohsiung Pier 76-77 location to Hanjin. This will complement their existing facility and also satisfy the port master plan to better integrate Kaohsiung terminal facilities,"he said.