Riyadh: The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced a 7.76% rise in container traffic at its trade hubs during February 2023, handling 622,837 TEUs compared to 577,993 TEUs in the previous year.

Detailed breakdown of the monthly container data reveal a 12.75% increase in exported containers from 172,208 TEUs in February 2022 to 194,157 TEUs this year, with imported containers up 5.95% year-on-year to 193,937 TEUs from 183,051 TEUs. Similarly, transshipments grew at a yearly pace of 5.39% from 222,734 TEUs to 234,743 TEUs.

On the other hand, cargo volumes slumped 3.13% to 23,089,455 tons from 23,835,826 tons in the prior period.

Under this category, dry bulk cargo soared 2.9% to 3,879,366 tons in contrast to last year’s 3,770,196 tons while general cargo jumped 77.2% to 639,843 tons from 361,086 tons in the year before. Liquid bulk, however, returned negative figures with volumes sliding 13.16% from 13,556,831 tons in February 2022 to 11,772,089 tons last month.

Furthermore, the ports’ food throughput totaled 1,646,900 tons after a 2.18% tumble from last year’s tally of 1,683,595 tons. On the contrary, livestock volumes gained 218.37% with 337,231 cattle heads being imported against 105,923 in the preceding year. Likewise, around 81,600 automobiles entered the Kingdom through Mawani’s ports at a 33.99% surge relative to last year’s aggregate of 60,898 units.

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.

The national maritime regulator aims to continuallyupgrade the throughput capacity of Saudi ports through bi-ticket investments and high-impact partnerships in its bid to transform the Kingdom into a global logistics hub of choice.     

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About the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani)

Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) was established in 1976 to oversee the operations of the Saudi ports. Since its inception, Mawani has been keen on transforming the Saudi ports into investment platforms and facilitating the Kingdom’s trade with the rest of the world. The Authority seeks to achieve an effective regulatory and commercial environment supported by an operating model that enables growth and innovation in the Kingdom's maritime industry. It also envisions developing a sustainable and prosperous ports sector to consolidate the Kingdom's position as a leading global logistics hub. Mawani strives to realize Saudi Arabia’s economic and social ambitions by ensuring reliable and efficient logistics operations, as well as creating a safe and sustainable maritime environment. Developing the Kingdom’s industrial capabilities to fulfill the objectives of the National Transport Strategy in line with Saudi Vision 2030, has and will always be one of Mawani’s main objectives, thus contributing to making Saudi Arabia a pioneer in the ports sector.

Find out more at mawani.gov.sa  
For media inquiries: Media@mawani.gov.sa