10/03/2026 05:57 AST
Container handling at Saudi ports rose 20.89 percent year on year in February to 667,882 twenty-foot equivalent units, official data showed.
The Saudi Ports Authority, also known as Mawani, disclosed that transshipment containers also achieved a 28.09 percent rise annually, reaching 155,325 TEUs during the same month, according to a statement.
Saudi Arabia ranked 15th globally in container handling in 2024, reflecting its growing role as a logistics hub, according to the UK-based maritime journal Lloyd's List.
The growth also aligns with the Kingdom's National Logistics Strategy, which aims to increase the sector's contribution to gross domestic product from 6 percent to 10 percent by 2030, highlighting the role of strong port operations in positioning Saudi Arabia as a logistics gateway across three continents.
The newly released statement said: "The number of incoming containers increased by 26.18 percent to reach 272,210 TEUs compared to 215,735 TEUs in the same period last year, while the number of outgoing containers increased by 11.54 percent to reach 240,347 TEUs compared to 215,485 TEUs last year."
It added: "The number of vehicles increased by 17.69 percent to reach 92,369 vehicles, compared to 78,482 vehicles last year. Similarly, maritime traffic recorded an increase of 13.06 percent to reach 1,385 ships, compared to 1,225 ships last year. Ports received 837,548 head of livestock, an increase of 19.99 percent compared to 698,035 head of livestock in the same period last year."
However, passenger numbers fell 6.82 percent year on year to 86,567 in February, the data showed.
It also showed that the total tonnage handled, including general cargo, solid bulk cargo, and liquid bulk cargo, rose by 9.22 percent annually to reach 18.15 million tonnes in February. The total for general cargo was 880,377 tonnes, liquid bulk cargo 13.40 million tonnes, and solid bulk cargo 3.86 million tonnes.
"The increase in the number of containers handled contributes to several economic benefits, as it enhances trade, stimulates industries and sectors related to maritime transport, promotes the growth of tourism, maritime activity, and associated services, supports supply chains, and contributes to achieving food security for the Kingdom, in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy to consolidate Saudi Arabia's position as a global logistics hub," the statement said.
In January, ports in the Kingdom achieved a 2.01 percent year-on-year increase in the number of containers handled during the month, reaching 738,111 TEUs. Transshipment containers also achieved a 22.44 percent rise during the same period, reaching 184,019 TEUs.
Arab News
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