Abu Dhabi ports, the company which operates ports and terminals in the UAE, reported an 82.4 percent increase in container volume at Khalifa Port in the first half of 2019, in comparison to the same period last year.

Container volume at Khalifa Port surged to 1,135,021 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) in the first half of this year, up from 620,974 TEU in first half of 2018, the company said in a statement, noting that the growth was attributed mainly to MSC concession agreement that was signed last year.

“With the commencement of commercial operations at CSP Abu Dhabi Container Terminal and the rejuvenation of Port of Fujairah on track through our joint venture with Fujairah Terminals, we expect our strong growth to continue,” Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports said in the statement.

CSP Abu Dhabi Container Terminal was built in partnership with COSCO SHIPPING Ports and it began trial operations in the second quarter of this year, with the full commercial operations set to commence in the fourth quarter of this year.

“Our success is a testimony to the fact that more and more firms are realising the opportunities that Abu Dhabi offers across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, as well as along China’s Belt and Road maritime route,” Al Shamisi added.

The total volume of cargo handled across the ports of Abu Dhabi Ports increased to just under 9.7 million tonnes in the first half 2019, up by 10 percent from the same period last year. The ports include Fujairah Terminals, Zayed Port and Mussafah Port.

The total number of cruise passengers in the first half of the year rose to 321,277 in the first half of 2019, up by 35 percent from the same period last year.

(Writing by Nada Al Rifai nada.rifai@refinitiv.com, editing by Seban Scaria)

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