01 August 2011
MUSCAT -- Cargo throughput at the Port of Sohar is projected to surge a phenomenal 60 per cent this year, underscoring robust year-on-year growth witnessed from the start of commercial operations at the industrial port. Vessel traffic was projected to jump 20 per cent this year, Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC), the landlord-operator, said in an account of the port's operational performance during the first half of this year.
"Despite the economical and political climate in the region, Port of Sohar managed to continue this trend in the first half of this year, by showing an increase of vessel calls of 20 per cent and impressive cargo growth of 60 per cent. The main contribution to this growth is due to the further expansion of Oiltanking Odfjell Terminals and the commissioning of the two large-scale steel industries, Vale and Jindal Shadeed. It is expected that these will be responsible in the near and longer term future for the strong continued growth of the port," SIPC stated.
While the unfortunate disasters in Japan did have a direct impact on imports into Oman, Sohar Port's container terminal OICT managed to stay at par with last year, partially as a result of newly attracted cargo flows to and from the UAE, the report said. However, the break-bulk terminal, C Steinweg Oman, was confronted with a strong drop in car imports. This resulted in a sharp contradiction to the good results of last year. It is expected that by the second half of this year, imports from Japan will recover with a consequential positive effect for both the terminals, the report noted.
Total cargo throughput at the industrial port was projected to soar to 19.574 million freight registered tonnes (FRT) by the end of this year, up 66 per cent from 12.245 million FRT recorded at the end of last year.
Dry bulk cargo volumes are expected to skyrocket 126 per cent to 6.396 million FRT this year from 2.830 million FRT last year. A 50 per cent increase is forecast in liquid bulk volumes, which will rise to 11.581 million FRT this year, from 7.727 million FRT at the end of last year.
Ro-Ro traffic however is predicted to slump 47 per cent to 38,720 units this year, from a high of 73,429 units at the end of 2010. Container volumes are projected to record a marginal 7 per cent increase to 1.046 million FRT this year, from 0.978 million FRT last year.
The total number of vessel calls this year is estimated at 1,334 calls, up 20 per cent from 1,110 calls recorded at the end of last year. Significantly, the figures do not take into account possible effects of the change of focus of Port Sultan Qaboos announced by the government recently.
The continuing robust uptrend will result in Sohar Port's biggest growth since it came into operation, SIPC said, citing Sohar's advantageous location as an Ideal point of entry for products shipped around the Gulf countries and as a gateway to the rest of the world.
MUSCAT -- Cargo throughput at the Port of Sohar is projected to surge a phenomenal 60 per cent this year, underscoring robust year-on-year growth witnessed from the start of commercial operations at the industrial port. Vessel traffic was projected to jump 20 per cent this year, Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC), the landlord-operator, said in an account of the port's operational performance during the first half of this year.
"Despite the economical and political climate in the region, Port of Sohar managed to continue this trend in the first half of this year, by showing an increase of vessel calls of 20 per cent and impressive cargo growth of 60 per cent. The main contribution to this growth is due to the further expansion of Oiltanking Odfjell Terminals and the commissioning of the two large-scale steel industries, Vale and Jindal Shadeed. It is expected that these will be responsible in the near and longer term future for the strong continued growth of the port," SIPC stated.
While the unfortunate disasters in Japan did have a direct impact on imports into Oman, Sohar Port's container terminal OICT managed to stay at par with last year, partially as a result of newly attracted cargo flows to and from the UAE, the report said. However, the break-bulk terminal, C Steinweg Oman, was confronted with a strong drop in car imports. This resulted in a sharp contradiction to the good results of last year. It is expected that by the second half of this year, imports from Japan will recover with a consequential positive effect for both the terminals, the report noted.
Total cargo throughput at the industrial port was projected to soar to 19.574 million freight registered tonnes (FRT) by the end of this year, up 66 per cent from 12.245 million FRT recorded at the end of last year.
Dry bulk cargo volumes are expected to skyrocket 126 per cent to 6.396 million FRT this year from 2.830 million FRT last year. A 50 per cent increase is forecast in liquid bulk volumes, which will rise to 11.581 million FRT this year, from 7.727 million FRT at the end of last year.
Ro-Ro traffic however is predicted to slump 47 per cent to 38,720 units this year, from a high of 73,429 units at the end of 2010. Container volumes are projected to record a marginal 7 per cent increase to 1.046 million FRT this year, from 0.978 million FRT last year.
The total number of vessel calls this year is estimated at 1,334 calls, up 20 per cent from 1,110 calls recorded at the end of last year. Significantly, the figures do not take into account possible effects of the change of focus of Port Sultan Qaboos announced by the government recently.
The continuing robust uptrend will result in Sohar Port's biggest growth since it came into operation, SIPC said, citing Sohar's advantageous location as an Ideal point of entry for products shipped around the Gulf countries and as a gateway to the rest of the world.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
