Saudi ports rank 15th globally

The Kingdom, represented by its seaports, has raised its international ranking in handling annual container numbers, advancing from 16th to 15th place internationally, according to the “Lloyd’s List” report of the 100 largest ports in the world, recently issued for the current year 2024.

According to the international report, the Kingdom’s ports have strengthened their international position, as the Jeddah Islamic Port jumped from 41st to 32nd place globally, by recording (5,586,074) standard containers during the year 2023, compared to what it recorded in the year 2022, which was (4,960,120) standard containers, achieving an increase of 12.6%.

King Abdullah Port also advanced from 71st to 70th place, recording (2,929,807) standard containers during 2023, compared to (2,905,306) containers in 2022, achieving an increase of 0.8%, while King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam jumped from 90th place to 82nd place, recording (2,305,811) during 2023, compared to (2,038,787) standard containers in 2022, achieving an increase of 13.1%. ‎ ‎ Omar bin Talal Hariri, Chairman of the General Authority for Ports, said: “The figures of growth rates and the continuous increase in the number of standard containers handled in the Kingdom’s ports reflect the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics power, and the prominent role of the ports sector in supporting the national economy and enhancing export and trade activities and supply chain movement, in order to achieve the goals of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services in accordance with Vision 2030 and consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics center.”

‎ It is worth noting that the General Authority for Ports has concluded during the past period a package of development and commercial support contracts to raise the operating efficiency of container terminals in the Kingdom’s ports, with an investment value of nearly 17 billion riyals, which contributes to increasing the capacity of container terminals at Jeddah Islamic Port by more than 70%, and increasing the capacity of container terminals at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam by more than 120%.

This also comes in light of the Kingdom’s continuous progress in the maritime navigation network connectivity index in the UNCTAD report issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, as a culmination of the strategic logistics partnerships it has concluded with major international shipping lines, by adding 31 transcontinental shipping services during the year 2023, and signing and laying the foundation stone for 6 new logistics zones with major national and international companies with investments from the private sector amounting to nearly 6 billion riyals, in addition to signing 4 contracts to provide maritime services with investments from the private sector exceeding one billion riyals, to provide a range of services in 8 ports in the Kingdom, in line with the objectives of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services, to consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics center.