Container traffic at S. Arabia’s ports rises by 14.6% in ’23

Container traffic at Saudi Arabia’s ports increased by 14.6 per cent in 2023, surpassing 5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). This growth includes 3.4 million TEUs inbound and 2.2 million TEUs outbound.

According to the latest Saudi Arabia 2023 Maritime Transport Statistics Publication, ship traffic rose significantly by 33.8 per cent, reaching 19,082 vessels. Leading the traffic was King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu with 6,538 ships, followed by Jeddah Islamic Port with 4,411 ships and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam with 2,516 ships.

Passenger numbers also increased notably, growing by 11.5 per cent to exceed one million. Among the ports, Jazan Port experienced the highest passenger traffic with 484,598 passengers.

Saudi Arabia’s ports span 104 square kilometres, with Ras Al Khair Port being the largest at 23 square kilometres. The ports are equipped with 241 berths and 32 terminals, with King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu having the highest number of terminals.

In terms of cargo volumes, the total reached 334 million tons, comprising 203.5 million tons outbound and 105.1 million tons inbound. King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu led the export figures with 89.8 million tons, while Jeddah Islamic Port excelled in imports with 38.9 million tons.

Unloaded cargo amounted to 121.3 million tons, and loaded cargo reached 213 million tons. Jeddah Islamic Port recorded the highest amount of unloaded cargo, whereas King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu topped the list for loaded cargo.

Attribution: Saudi Arabia 2023 Maritime Transport Statistics Publication

Subediting: M. S. Salama