The volume of import containers handled by the Saudi Arabian King Abdullah Port in 2019 reached 203,670TEU compared to 190,005TEU in 2018, representing an increase of 7.2%. Meanwhile, market conditions led to a 12.2% decline in annual throughput for container handling.
This can be attributed to the current tensions in trade relations between China and the United States, together with a decrease in transhipment operations caused by recent changes in shipping lines' services said the port authority.
A number of ships are undergoing refits in order to conform with new regulations and systems that will be applied this year in emission control areas and this has led to adjustments to operations.
In February last year the King Abdullah Port was officially inaugurated by Crown Prince HRH Prince Mohammad bin Salman. It was ranked second in the list of the fastest-growing ports in the world in 2018 according to Alphaliner, the leading global specialist in analysing maritime transport data, port capabilities, and the future of ships and shipping routes around the world. The port also received the MSC Mina container ship, one of the largest in the world, during its first visit to the Kingdom.
The annual throughput of King Abdullah Port for bulk and general cargo increased to 2.98 million tonnes by the end of 2019, compared to 689,000 tonnes in 2018, registering a 333% increase. In addition, 85 cargo ships docked in the port in 2019 compared to 57 ships in 2018.
