The new services (GULF SHUTTLE, REDEX, JADE, AE19 and SE4), launched in collaboration with major global shipping companies including MSC, CMA CGM, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, will operate across multiple maritime routes linking Saudi ports with key regional and international destinations, expanding connectivity and improving logistics performance.

According to Saudi Gazette, these services provide a combined capacity of approximately 63,594 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), strengthening the operational capabilities of Saudi ports and offering greater flexibility for exporters and importers while supporting smoother trade flows.

The initiative will mitigate the impact of disruptions affecting vital maritime corridors, including the all-crucial Strait of Hormuz, while enhancing Red Sea connectivity, to improve overall supply chain efficiency.

Stating that all Saudi-based ports will be integrated with the action plan, Mawani further said the move is part of proactive efforts to enhance the maritime sector’s readiness by ensuring uninterrupted supply chains and strengthening the reliability of Saudi ports as key nodes in international trade.

Mawani will also provide integrated services for ships in the Eastern Region, including fuel, water, essential supplies, crew changes, and other operational requirements to keep the Gulf region’s maritime operations running.

As part of the initiative, the authority will also provide an updated list of approved ship suppliers and fuel service providers, enabling industry stakeholders to coordinate their needs directly and efficiently with these entities. Mawani has also kept its customer service and knowledge centre operational to proactively handle inquiries and facilitate requests.

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According to the most recent data from the Saudi Ports Authority, or Mawani, the Kingdom’s terminals received 271,465 standard containers in July of this year. This marks an increase from 234,592 in July of 2023. Additionally, there was a 9.11% annual rise in handled tonnage, bringing the total to 27.38 million metric tons.

The rise is in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy’s objective of positioning Saudi Arabia as a hub linking three continents and a global logistics centre. It also supports Mawani’s initiatives to boost the effectiveness of port operations and the Kingdom’s connectivity to international markets, both of which promote domestic exports.

The company’s commitment to improving the King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, which can accommodate a wide range of vessel sizes and kinds, is evident in the expansion as well, bolstering Mawani’s status internationally in the maritime transport and logistics industry.

According to the data, the Kingdom shipped 701,606 metric tons in general, of which 4.48 million were solid bulk cargo and 15.34 million were liquid bulk freight. In July, there were 622,856 container handling activities, which is a 14.4% reduction from the same month the previous year.

Livestock discharges from the ports increased significantly, reaching 506,016—a 127.6% increase from July 2023. But only 908 ships arrived in July, representing an 11.24% decline in marine traffic. Additionally, the number of passengers decreased by 31.8% to 52,191 during the month. There were 90,471 vehicles in July, an 8.64% decrease in traffic. In July, the number of outgoing containers rose by 7.78% to 228,031.

Mawani’s performance increased from 76.16 points in the second quarter of 2023 to 77.66 points in the third quarter of 2023, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, indicating advancements in the maritime industry.

Saudi Arabia moved up 17 spots to take 38th place worldwide in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index in 2023.

Reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s strategic position in international shipping and logistics, the country’s continuous rise in container handling and logistics performance improvements shows the country’s progress toward becoming a major player in global marine commerce.

The post Container throughput growth at Saudi ports reinforces country’s position in global shipping appeared first on International Finance.

The rise is in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy’s objective of positioning Saudi Arabia as a hub linking three continents and a global logistics centre. It also supports Mawani’s initiatives to boost the effectiveness of port operations and the Kingdom’s connectivity to international markets, both of which promote domestic exports.

The company’s commitment to improving the King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, which can accommodate a wide range of vessel sizes and kinds, is evident in the expansion as well, bolstering Mawani’s status internationally in the maritime transport and logistics industry.

According to the data, the Kingdom shipped 701,606 metric tons in general, of which 4.48 million were solid bulk cargo and 15.34 million were liquid bulk freight. In July, there were 622,856 container handling activities, which is a 14.4% reduction from the same month the previous year.

Livestock discharges from the ports increased significantly, reaching 506,016—a 127.6% increase from July 2023. But only 908 ships arrived in July, representing an 11.24% decline in marine traffic. Additionally, the number of passengers decreased by 31.8% to 52,191 during the month. There were 90,471 vehicles in July, an 8.64% decrease in traffic. In July, the number of outgoing containers rose by 7.78% to 228,031.

Mawani’s performance increased from 76.16 points in the second quarter of 2023 to 77.66 points in the third quarter of 2023, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, indicating advancements in the maritime industry.

Saudi Arabia moved up 17 spots to take 38th place worldwide in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index in 2023.

Reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s strategic position in international shipping and logistics, the country’s continuous rise in container handling and logistics performance improvements shows the country’s progress toward becoming a major player in global marine commerce.

The post Container throughput growth at Saudi ports reinforces country’s position in global shipping appeared first on International Finance.

The new service will be operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Co. and it will connect Jubail Port with 11 other global ports via weekly sailings to Middle Eastern ports Khalifa, Jebel Ali, Hamad, Karachi, Mundra, Hazira, Alexandria, Tekirdag, Aliaga, Mersin, and King Abdullah. The service will operate five vessels with an average carrying capacity of 8,025 equivalent units.

The development will position Jubail Port as a competitive hub, apart from uncovering a host of value-added trade opportunities aligned with the objectives of the Kingdom’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

Jubail Port operates as a gateway for local industries to export their products to global markets, bolstering Saudi Arabia’s foreign trade and economic growth.

Saudi Arabia’s ports sector will also welcome other trade links from leading shipping lines that are choosing the Kingdom as a vital port, due to its strategic location at the crossroads of three continents, Mawani added.

Mawani and MSC’s MEDLOG recently signed an agreement to establish the first-ever integrated logistics park and re-export zone at King Abdulaziz Port with an investment exceeding USD 26 million.

Another shipping service connecting India to East Mediterranean commenced linking Qatar’s Hamad port with other global ports including Jubail.

Since 2020, Mawani had struck partnerships worth over USD 500 million with national and international giants to establish six modern logistics parks, thus creating over 6,000 job opportunities.

Mawani was established in 1976 to transform Saudi ports into investment platforms and facilitate the Kingdom’s trade with the rest of the world.

The Authority seeks an effective regulatory and commercial environment supported by an operating model that enables growth and innovation in the Kingdom’s maritime industry.

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