Saudi Arabia’s seaports have achieved a remarkable milestone, climbing from 16th to 15th in global container handling rankings, as highlighted in the 2024 edition of ‘Lloyd’s List One Hundred Ports‘.
This advancement underscores the Kingdom’s growing influence as a global logistics powerhouse, with the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) playing a crucial role in driving this success.
Jeddah Islamic Port, a key player in this achievement, made a significant leap from 41st to 32nd place globally, handling approximately 5.6 million standard containers over the past year—a 12.6% increase from the 4.96 million containers recorded in 2022.
This substantial growth reflects the port’s strategic importance in global trade routes.
King Abdullah Port also demonstrated its growing significance by moving up to 70th place from 71st, handling 2.93 million standard containers in 2023, a slight increase of 0.8% from the previous year.
Similarly, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam advanced from 90th to 82nd place, recording an impressive 13.1% increase in container handling, with 2.305 million standard containers processed last year.
Omar Al-Hariri, chairman of MAWANI, emphasized that these growth figures highlight Saudi Arabia’s rising status as a global logistics hub.
The continuous improvement in container handling reflects the strategic investments made in the ports sector, supporting the national economy by enhancing export capabilities, trade activities, and supply chain movements.
In a move to further strengthen its ports, MAWANI has signed several development and commercial contracts aimed at boosting the operating efficiency of container terminals.
These initiatives are expected to increase the capacity of Jeddah Islamic Port by over 70% and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam by more than 120%, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position in the global maritime industry.
