By: Arab news

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ports handled 722,502 twenty-foot equivalent units in July, marking a 12.01 percent year-on-year increase as infrastructure upgrades and expanded logistics services boosted throughput. 

According to the Saudi Ports Authority, also known as Mawani, the gain was led by a 35.34 percent jump in transshipment volumes to 175,666 TEUs, while export containers climbed 12.86 percent to 275,098 TEUs. Imports recorded a modest 0.10 percent rise to 271,738 TEUs. 

The July performance follows strong growth in May, when Saudi ports handled 720,684 TEUs, up 13 percent year on year.  

The uptick in activity supports the goals of Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to position the Kingdom as a global logistics hub under Vision 2030. 

In a release, Mawani stated: “These increases reflect the expansion of trade exchange with global markets, the stimulation of sectors related to maritime transport, the enhancement of supply chain efficiency, the growth of maritime activity, the support of the Kingdom’s food security, the expansion of economic activity, and the creation of jobs.”