The Saudi Ports Authority “Mawani” achieved a package of operational achievements during the first half of the year 2023 AD to enhance the movement of supply chains and consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics center, according to the objectives of the national strategy for transport and logistics services. It added 20 new shipping services to Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam. And the commercial port of Jubail, to link the Kingdom with the ports of the east and west, enhance the movement of trade and export, and devote the Kingdom to the global markets.
In terms of operational performance, the first half of 2023 witnessed an increase in the number of containers handled at the authority’s ports by 15.12%, to reach 4,088,641 standard containers, compared to 3,551,676 standard containers in the same period last year 2022, and the volume of transshipment containers handling increased by 12.19% to reach 1,560,790 containers compared to 1,391,221 containers in the same period of the previous year, and the number of ship traffic increased by 10.68% to reach 5,918 vessels, compared to 5,347 vessels in the corresponding period of last year, and the total tons of foodstuffs reached 10,835,620 tons, compared to 9,866,753 with an increase of 9.82%, while the number of cars reached 496,949 cars, an increase of 26.08%, compared to 394,151 cars.
Over the first six months of this year, the authority’s ports received 568,933 passengers, an increase of 60.83%, compared to 353,758 last year, while 4,372,027 head of cattle were unloaded, an increase of 95.79%, compared to 2,232,987. The Kingdom also achieved new progress in the index. The connection of the maritime navigation network, within the “UNCTAD” report for the second quarter of 2023 AD, recorded 76.16 points, an increase of 4.83 points over the same period in 2022 AD, according to “SPA”.
“Mawani” signed an agreement with the United Electronics Company “Extra” to establish a logistical center in King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam with an area of 32 thousand square meters and a value of about 35 million riyals, as well as signing an agreement with the Jeddah Chamber to establish an integrated logistical area in Al Khomrah, south of Jeddah, with an investment value of about One billion riyals, with a total area of 3 million square meters.
Mawani and Maersk laid the foundation stone for the company’s largest integrated logistics area in the Middle East at Jeddah Islamic Port. With an area of 225 thousand square meters and investments amounting to 1.3 billion riyals, in addition to the opening of the logistics area of LogiPoint company in Jeddah Islamic Port, with a total area of 72 thousand square meters, and investments amounting to 150 million riyals. During the first half, “Mawani” also signed several partnership agreements. With a number of agencies and companies in the government and private sectors; Among the most prominent of these is its conclusion of an agreement with Albanova International Company, in partnership with Trafalgar Company, to establish an integrated fuel supply center for ships, which is one of the leading center projects in King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu, in partnership with the Ministry of Energy.
Within the framework of the “Green Ports Initiative”, which aims to reduce energy consumption by 15%, “Mawani” launched an initiative to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by reducing the average movements of cranes per incoming container required for manual inspection, and reducing the turnover rate of trucks inside Jeddah Islamic Port; Which leads to a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions by 1,046 tons at the end of the current year 2023 AD.
During the first half, “Mawani” carried out 787 inspection tours of shipping agents and ship suppliers, as part of its continuous efforts to assess the quality and effectiveness of performance and services provided to beneficiaries in Saudi ports.
Ports recorded during May 2023 the highest monthly number of container handling in the history of ports, with an increase in the number of handling containers by 18.80% to reach 709,944 standard containers, compared to 597,617 standard containers in the same month of 2022, which embodies the success of the initiatives launched by the authority. To develop the maritime sector, improve operational efficiency, develop the regulatory and legislative environment, and strengthen logistical partnerships with the private sector.
