Saudi Ports See Significant Increase in Container Traffic
In a remarkable development, ports in Saudi Arabia have witnessed a 12.48 percent surge in the number of received containers in March compared to the same period last year, according to official data disclosed by the Saudi Ports Authority, also known as Mawani.
The terminals in the Kingdom received a total of 265,148 standard containers in the third month of 2024, showcasing a substantial annual increase from 235,738 containers.
Moreover, the maritime facilities experienced a 3.77 percent uptick in the volume of handled tonnage, reaching 19.64 million tonnes in contrast to 18.93 million tonnes recorded in March 2023. This highlights the significant efforts made to enhance port infrastructure and deliver top-notch logistics services, as stated by Mawani in a recent press release.
The Kingdom’s general shipment volumes reached 804,837 tonnes, solid bulk cargo reached 3.94 million tonnes, and liquid bulk freight reached 14.74 million tonnes. Despite this overall positive trend, the container handling operations saw a decrease of 9.85 percent, totaling 561,484 containers compared to 622,856 containers in the previous year.
Furthermore, the harbors recorded a discharge rate of 961,131 livestock, indicating a significant 54.12 percent increase compared to the figures from the corresponding period in 2023. However, maritime traffic witnessed a slight 3.01 percent decrease, totaling 968 ships compared to 998 in 2023.
In a surprising turn of events, the number of passengers decreased by a staggering 51.01 percent to 62,507, compared to the 127,599 recorded in the previous year. Similarly, the vehicle count also decreased by 17.34 percent to 67,638 compared to 81,826 in 2023.
On a positive note, outgoing containers increased by 8.56 percent to 212,672 compared to 195,895 last year. Additionally, a report from the UN Conference on Trade and Development highlighted Mawani’s progress, with the organization climbing from 76.16 points in the second quarter of 2023 to 77.66 points in the third quarter, showcasing the Kingdom’s advancements in the maritime sector.
In a broader context, Saudi Arabia has climbed 17 global ranks in the Logistics Performance Index issued by the World Bank, reaching the 38th spot globally in 2023. This signifies the country’s continuous efforts to enhance its logistics and maritime capabilities on the global stage.