The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) reported a significant increase in cargo tonnage at its ports in August 2024. The total tonnage handled reached 30,527,279 tons, reflecting a robust 26.57% growth compared to August 2023. This growth underscores the efficiency and capacity of Saudi ports as they align with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, positioning the Kingdom as a global logistics hub.
Surge in Container Handling
Export containers surged by 18.76% in August 2024, reaching 258,955 TEUs, while import containers also saw a significant increase of 15.24%, totaling 261,288 TEUs. Despite these gains, the overall container handling slightly decreased by 5.01% to 685,647 TEUs. Transshipment containers experienced a sharp drop of 40.29%, down to 165,404 TEUs, compared to August 2023.
The ports handled a variety of cargo types, including 711,111 tons of general cargo, 4,832,305 tons of bulk solid cargo, and 17,525,862 tons of bulk liquid cargo. However, livestock imports declined by 24.27%, with only 422,449 heads recorded in August.
Consistent Growth Amidst Challenges
While the number of ships docking at Saudi ports decreased by 4.18% to 986 in August 2024, the volume of cars shipped increased by 24.51% to 103,416. Passenger numbers, however, saw a significant decline, dropping by 32.51% to 50,345.
Mawani had previously reported a 9.11% increase in cargo tonnage for July 2024. The consistent growth in cargo volume highlights the ongoing development and strategic importance of Saudi ports in the global logistics landscape. Despite fluctuations in specific categories, the overall performance of the ports remains strong, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing its transportation and logistics infrastructure.
