Saudi container volumes up 7.8% in February

Throughput of 622,837 teu in February 2023 was 7.76% higher than the 577,993 teu recorded in February 2022. Container export volumes rose 12.75% to 172,208 teu, while imports rose 5.95% to 193,937 teu; transhipments grew by 5.39% to 234,743 teu.

Cargo volumes were down on-year, falling 3.13% to 23,089,455 tons led by a 13.16% drop in liquid bulk volumes to 11,772,089 tons. Dry bulk was up 2.9% to 3,879,366 tons and general cargo lept 77.2% to 639,843 tons.

Livestock volumes rose 218.37% to 337,231 head of cattle and automobile imports  rose 33.99% to 81,600.

“February saw as many as 883 vessels berth across Saudi ports, which represents a 4.87% uptick from 842 vessels during the same period last year. Passenger numbers, too, followed a similar trend with a 61.16% spike in arrivals at 100,903 pax in comparison to 62,611 pax in 2022,” said Mawani.

Mawani also announced that Saudi Arabia has become the first Arab state to sign up to the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) convention.

The signing of the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation comes after a recent visit by Mawani President, Mr. Omar Hariri, to the IALA’s headquarters in Paris, where he and IALA Secretary General, Francis Zachariae, discussed technical co-operation between IALA and Mawani.

Related:Saudi Ports add East Africa, India and Iraq connections

“The Kingdom’s ratification will enable the adoption of best practices and standards for safe navigation in waterways and port areas through the deployment of Marine Aids to Navigation (AtoN) to reduce marine accidents, safeguard life and property at sea, and protect the marine environment,” said Mawani.