APM Terminals' container throughput across its global terminal network rose by three per cent in 2013 to 36.3 million TEU compared to the previous year.

Invested capital last year rose to US$6.1 billion as work on seven new terminals and expansion and upgrades to 16 operating facilities continues, with a return on invested capital (ROI) of 13.5 per cent, the company said in a statement.

Major portfolio activities in 2013 included the opening of the 1.2 million TEU annual throughput capacity Brasil Terminal Portuario (BTP) at the Port of Santos, South America's busiest container port, in which the terminal operator holds a 50 per cent share.

It also acquired Russian terminal operator NCC Group Ltd through Global Ports Investments PLC, in which APM Terminals holds a 30.75 per cent co-controlling share.

Global Ports' five Russian terminals now represent a combined 3.6 million TEU of annual capacity, and control a 40 per cent share of Russia's total box throughput.

"We will continue to invest in infrastructure in underserved and high-growth markets to provide the services our customers require as global trade continues to expand," said APM Terminals CEO Kim Fejfer in a company statement.

New terminal projects secured in 2013 included a new 1.5 million TEU, deep-water terminal near Izmir, Turkey, and a second container terminal at the Port of Abidjan, Ivory Coast with an annual throughput capacity of two million TEU.

Five facilities within the global terminal network were cited among the world's top 10 most productive terminals for the first half of 2013 in a study on crane moves per hour with vessels in port conducted by the Journal of Commerce Group.

Safety performance improved by 28 per cent as the lost-time injury frequency (LTIF) rate was reduced to 1.81 per million man-hours worked from 2.53 in 2012.