Mawani Reports 7.82% Cargo Growth At Saudi Ports For September 2024

The Saudi Ports Authority, known as Mawani, has announced a 7.82% increase in cargo tonnage at its ports for September 2024. The total reached 28,097,022 tons, up from 26,058,554 tons in September 2023. This growth aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy to enhance Saudi Arabia's role as a global logistics hub.

Export containers experienced a 9% rise, totalling 255,606 TEUs compared to 234,663 TEUs in September of the previous year. Import containers also saw an increase of 18%, reaching 258,007 TEUs from last year's 217,933 TEUs. General cargo amounted to 975,406 tons, while bulk solid cargo was recorded at 4,473,019 tons. Bulk liquid cargo reached a volume of 15,277,608 tons.

Despite these increases in certain areas, there were declines in other sectors. The total number of containers handled decreased by 8.08%, with figures dropping from 732,319 TEUs in September 2023 to 673,124 TEUs this year. Transhipment containers saw a significant reduction of 42.98%, falling to 159,511 TEUs from the previous year's count of 279,723 TEUs.

Livestock arrivals dropped significantly by 35.58%, with only 343,952 heads received compared to the previous year's figure of 533,948. Passenger numbers also fell sharply by 39.46%, with only 44,166 passengers recorded this September against last year's count of 72,956 passengers.

Shipping traffic saw a decline as well; the number of ships decreased by 5.18%, down to 988 ships from the previous count of 1,042 ships in September last year. However, car shipments bucked this trend with an increase of 10.51%, reaching a total of 98,087 cars compared to last year's figure of 88,755 cars.

August Performance and Strategic Goals

Mawani had previously reported a substantial increase in cargo tonnage for August this year at a rate of 26.57%. Exported containers during that month grew by an impressive rate of 18.76%, reaching a total of 258,955 TEUs over the same period in the previous year.

The overall results reflect efforts towards achieving the objectives set out in Saudi Arabia's National Transport and Logistics Strategy. This strategy aims to strengthen the Kingdom's position as a pivotal logistics hub on the global stage.

With inputs from SPA