Saudi Arabia Rises to 15th Globally in 2024 Container Handling Rankings

Saudi Arabia, represented by its seaports, has advanced its international ranking in annual container handling, moving from 16th to 15th place globally, according to the 2024 edition of the 'Lloyd’s List One Hundred Ports'.

The report highlights Saudi Arabia's ports strengthening their global position, with Jeddah Islamic Port making a significant leap from 41st to 32nd place. It recorded approximately 5.6 million standard containers last year, up from 4.96 million in 2022, marking a 12.6% increase.

King Abdullah Port also improved its ranking, moving from 71st to 70th place, with 2.93 million standard containers handled last year compared to 2.905 million in 2022, reflecting a growth of 0.8%, according to the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI).

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Similarly, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam saw a rise from 90th to 82nd place, with 2.305 million standard containers managed in 2023, up from 2.038 million in the previous year, achieving a 13.1% increase.

Omar Al-Hariri, chairman of MAWANI, commented on the growth, stating: “The figures for growth rates and the continuous increase in the number of standard containers handled in Saudi ports reflect the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics power. This highlights the critical role of the ports sector in supporting the national economy, enhancing export and trade activities, and strengthening supply chain movements.”

The Saudi Ports Authority has also signed a series of development and commercial support contracts aimed at raising the operational efficiency of container terminals across Saudi ports. These contracts are expected to increase the capacity of container terminals at Jeddah Islamic Port by more than 70% and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam by over 120%.

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