In August, Saudi ports experienced a strong surge in activity. Overall container throughput increased by 9.5% to reach 750,634 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This was largely driven by a notable 14.7% rise in transshipment activity, which hit 189,407 TEUs, positioning the Kingdom as a key transit point for global trade. Both export and import containers saw healthy growth, increasing by 7.95% and 7.8% respectively.
Increased Maritime and Passenger Traffic
The rise in port activity wasn’t limited to cargo. Maritime traffic also saw a significant increase of 13.16%, with 1,118 vessels docking in August compared to 988 the previous year. The ports also experienced a massive 70.1% jump in passenger numbers, reaching 85,636. Additionally, the number of vehicles handled grew by 4.27% to 107,826, and the ports received 17.2% more livestock, totaling 494,950 head of cattle.
Strategic Initiatives and Future Growth
The positive August results build on steady gains seen throughout the year, with throughput in July and May also showing double-digit growth. This performance aligns with Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy, a core component of its Vision 2030 plan. To further these goals, the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has launched new services, such as the GS2/KMP shipping service, which connects Saudi ports to 18 international destinations and has a capacity of up to 16,000 TEUs. Mawani is also focusing on strengthening regional partnerships, including exploring joint investment projects with Jazan City, to enhance the role of its ports as key industrial and trade hubs.
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Source: Arab News
