- Ship Traffic Increases as 2,803 Vessels Call on Qatar’s Ports.
- RORO Movements Surge 62% with Over 130,000 Vehicles Handled.
- Container Throughput Climbs 9.55%, Reaching 1.46 Million TEUs.
Maritime activity in Qatar was impressive in 2024, as Hamad Port became a prime transhipment port in the region. As per official statistics, the growth of key indicators like container handling, vehicle movement, and livestock transportation reflected a year-over-year increase that reflected the good performance of the economy and the rising international trade in the country, reports Gulf Times.
Increase in Vessel Traffic
A total of 2,803 ships called on Qatar’s three ports in 2024, up by 1.28% from the previous year. The busiest month for ship berths was December, while April recorded the lowest traffic with 192 ships.
Vehicle (RORO) Movements Surge
In 2024, the ports received 130,684 vehicles. This was an impressive 62.18% growth year-on-year. RORO (roll-on/roll-off) activities peaked in November with 27,795 vehicles while in April, 19,573 vehicles were the lowest movement.
RORO ships are those that have ramps so that the vehicles can roll on and roll off. They can be used for the transportation of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles without cranes.
Container Handling Increases
Container handling via Qatar’s ports reached 1.46 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) during 2024, up 9.55% from the preceding year. June was the month with the most container movement with 144,884 TEUs, while the lowest was in April at 87,005 TEUs.
The upgraded container terminal facilities, most recently with CT2 having up-to-date modern technology, have fueled the growth in the sector. These improvements dovetail with the National Vision of Qatar for the year 2030 to upgrade trade volumes and ease of business.
Milestones of Hamad Port
In 2024, Hamad Port successfully crossed the significant milestone of transshipment cargo passing the 10 million TEUs since it started operating in 2016. Over the years, the port has cemented its place as a hub of international shipping and is used by most global shipping lines.
In 2024, Hamad Port registered an increase of 23% transshipment cargo, making it the hub for cargo movements in the region.
Livestock Movements Increase Significantly
Livestock transportation through Qatar’s ports saw a 22.46% increase, with 543,713 heads handled during 2024. March was the busiest month for livestock, with 118,569 heads transported, while April recorded the lowest at 19,573.
Decline in General Cargo and Building Materials
General cargo handled at the three ports totalled 1.66 million freight tonnes in 2024, a sharp year-on-year decline of 63.26%. The general cargo movement was highest in April at 235,432 freight tonnes and lowest in June at 56,934 tonnes.
Similarly, the ports handled 247,543 tonnes of building materials in 2024, down 53.15% annually. March had the highest movement of building materials at 52,242 tonnes, while no activity was reported in September and October.
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Source: Gulf Times
