Saudi Arabia’s ports have significantly improved their international standing in annual container handling, according to the latest “Lloyd’s List” report.
Among the world’s top 100 ports, the Kingdom’s ports have climbed from the 16th to the 15th position, SPA reported. Jeddah Islamic Port has made particularly impressive strides, leaping from 41st to 32nd place. In 2023, it handled 5,586,074 standard containers, surpassing the 4,960,120 containers handled in 2022 – a growth of 12.6percent.
King Abdullah Port also demonstrated remarkable progress, climbing from 71st to 70th place. The port processed 2,929,807 standard shipping containers in 2023, compared to 2,905,306 the previous year, representing a modest increase of 0.8percent.
Meanwhile, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam experienced a more significant jump, moving from the 90th to the 82nd place. The facility handled 2,305,811 standard containers in 2023, compared to 2,038,787 the year prior, marking a notable increase of 13.1percent.
Mawani President Omar Hariri expressed satisfaction with these achievements, stating that the substantial growth rates and increased container handling volumes in the Saudi ports underscore the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics powerhouse. Hariri noted that the ports sector plays a pivotal role in supporting the national economy, enhancing export and trade activities, and facilitating the smooth movement of supply chains.
Expanding global connectivity
To bolster operational efficiency, Mawani has recently finalized a series of development and commercial support contracts for container terminals, amounting to approximately SAR17 billion. These investments aim to increase the capacity of container terminals, by over 70percent at Jeddah Islamic Port and by more than 120percent at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam.
The Kingdom’s continuous progress in the maritime navigation network connectivity index, as recognized in the UNCTAD report, is a testament to its strategic logistics partnerships with major international shipping lines. During 2023, the Kingdom expanded its global shipping connectivity, adding 31 transcontinental services. Additionally, Mawani signed agreements for six new logistics zones with prominent national and international companies, and inked four contracts for maritime services, totaling investments exceeding SAR1 billion.
These initiatives align with the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services, reinforcing the Kingdom’s ambitions to solidify its position as a leading global logistics hub.
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