Mawani Achieves Remarkable Growth In Container Imports And Cargo Throughput

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has reported a notable increase in its operational metrics for February, highlighting the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to enhance its port infrastructure and logistics services. The data reveals a significant rise in imported containers, cargo throughput, and maritime traffic, alongside fluctuations in passenger numbers, vehicle imports, and container transshipment volumes.

In a striking development, imported containers saw a 16.88% growth, reaching 266,672 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) this February compared to 193,937 TEUs in the same period of 2023. Additionally, there was a 1.44% increase in cargo throughput tonnage, with the ports handling 23,381,835 tons against the previous year's 23,049,373 tons. This growth is attributed to Mawani's dedicated efforts to upgrade port facilities and offer superior logistical services.

A closer look at the cargo composition reveals diverse categories: general cargo amounted to 830,641 tons; solid bulk cargo weighed in at 3,626,347 tons; and liquid bulk cargo dominated with 12,586,815 tons. The ports also saw a significant surge in livestock unloading, with 899,293 cattle heads received—a 166.67% increase from the previous year's 337,231.

Maritime Traffic and Passenger Movements

Maritime traffic experienced a modest rise of 1.57%, with the number of ships reaching 907 compared to 893 in February 2023. However, passenger numbers saw a decline of 32.86%, totaling 67,754 against last year's 100,907. The automotive sector also witnessed a downturn, with car imports dropping by 11.12% to reach 72,448 vehicles.

Container Handling Dynamics

The handling of containers presented a mixed picture. Overall handled containers decreased by 9.85% to 561,484 TEUs from the previous year's 622,856 TEUs. Container transshipment experienced a significant reduction of 34.88%, standing at 152,868 TEUs compared to 234,762 TEUs in February of last year. Exported containers also saw a decrease of 6.29%, totaling 181,944 TEUs against the prior year's figure of 194,158 TEUs.

Record-Breaking Performance by King Abdul Aziz Port

King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam achieved a historic milestone by recording the highest throughput ever with 235,820 TEUs. This achievement aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), which aims to cement Saudi Arabia's position as a leading global logistics hub connecting three continents.

The reported figures for February underscore Saudi Arabia's strategic initiatives to bolster its maritime and logistics sectors. By continuously upgrading its port infrastructure and enhancing logistical services, the Kingdom is steadily advancing towards realizing its ambitious vision of becoming a pivotal logistics center on the global stage.

With inputs from SPA