Containers, RORO and Cruise ships all on the increase in 2013
Abu Dhabi Ports Company's (ADPC) Khalifa Port and Zayed Port saw increased volumes last year with container traffic and RORO (roll on, roll off vehicles) seeing significant growth over the last 12 months[1].
RORO traffic which comes into Zayed Port in the centre of Abu Dhabi has grown by 11.7% over the last 12 months. The increase reflects consumer demand and a growing population in the region.
Container traffic at Khalifa Port's container terminal which is operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals has increased by 14.6%. Since its opening, the port has become Abu Dhabi's gateway to international markets.
The container terminal celebrated handling 104,000 containers (TEU) in December last year. This was the most containers ever handled in one month in the emirate and in November, the container terminal hit the 1 million TEU benchmark [2] - since the ports commercial opening in September 2012.
Khalifa Port's import and export activities will continue to grow as the adjacent Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) is completed. More than 40 national, regional and international investors have signed lease agreements and started construction of their facilities in the industrial zone.
Many of the Kizad investors are already, or are close to starting production. Emirates Aluminium (EMAL), which has built one of the world's largest single-site aluminium smelters on site, and Brasil Foods, South America's largest food processing company, and Germany's KSB are just a few of the high profile businesses that have discovered the industrial zone as an opportunity to expand into Middle East and Asian markets.
Zayed Port celebrates a record number of cruise vessels calling at the cruise terminal. 2013 saw 92 cruise ships calling at the city centre port, up from 72 in 2012. Abu Dhabi is growing in popularity as a winter sun destination and a city with many varied attractions and a rich cultural heritage.
Last but not least, the volumes of general and bulk cargo have remained steady with significant amounts of bulk cargo moving through Khalifa Port from Kizad's anchor tenant Emal and large volumes moving through Musaffah Port from Emirates Steel.
All of ADPC's commercial ports - Khalifa Port, Musaffah Port and Zayed Port handle general and bulk cargo. A significant amount of general and bulk cargo is linked to the construction industry which slowed slightly last year. It is anticipated that the volumes will increase in the year ahead as many significant infrastructure projects continue underway.
ADPC's port activities are not just linked to cargo volumes though. As a port operator and master developer, ADPC has an ongoing significant programme of investment across its Western Region ports, where investment is targeted at improving facilities for local communities and businesses.
ADPC CEO, Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi says: "We are pleased to see the growth in RORO and Cruise at Zayed Port, both sectors are ones we are keen to develop as they contribute revenue not just to the port, but also to the wider economic community.
"We congratulate Abu Dhabi Terminals, Khalifa Port's container terminal operator on the increased volumes last year and for hitting some significant milestone targets. The new ship to shore cranes which arrived last month, increase capacity by 750,000 TEU and the new automated straddle carriers increase the container yard capacity by a further 40%.
"Looking ahead to 2014, we will be working to build on the commercial success of our all of our business segments, while continuing to support local business in the Western Region. ADPC is an ambitious, progressive organization focused on its contribution to the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and the development and empowerment of UAE Nationals".
About ADPC
As a master developer and regulator of ports and industrial zones in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, ADPC's core objective is to facilitate the diversification of the economy by stimulating development and trade, following Abu Dhabi's Economic Vision 2030.
ADPC manages eleven commercial, logistics, community and leisure ports, including its flagship state-of-the-art, deep-water Khalifa Port. ADPC supports partners' infrastructure projects and sets up new companies and joint ventures in the ports and industrial zones sectors.
ADPC is also developing Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad). Located adjacent to Khalifa Port, Kizad serves a range of logistics and manufacturing investors, and is destined to grow into one of the world's largest industrial zones.
The company's AED 26.5 billion (USD 7.2 billion) megaproject - the flagship Khalifa Port and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) - has been designed to be flexible to reflect market needs.
Kizad was launched to market in 2010, and the whole of Khalifa Port was inaugurated on 12/12/12 by UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The port's semi-automated container terminal was launched on September 1st, 2012. Khalifa Port is now handling all of Abu Dhabi's TEU container traffic, after its transfer from Zayed Port, the historic port in the city centre.
Phase One of Khalifa Port has a capacity of 2.5 million TEUs, plus 12 million tons of general cargo. Further phases of development will occur as market demand requires. With all phases complete, Khalifa Port will be able to handle 15 million TEUs and 35 million tons of general cargo per year.
For more information, please contact:
Akram Kanso
International Media Relations Consultant | Corporate Communication
PO Box 54477 Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone +971 (0)2 695 2982
Mobile: +971 (0)50 4260365
Facsimile: +971 (0)2 695 2111
[1] The figures are for the last (Gregorian) calendar year.
[2] One million TEUS handled between the commencement of commercial operations on 1 September 2012 and 12 December 2013.
© Press Release 2014
