Staff Writer
In the first half of this year, container transshipment increased by 32% year over year at Qatar’s ports, which are quickly emerging as a regional commercial powerhouse.
“During the first half of 2023, container transshipment volume increased by 32% year over year at Mwani Qatar ports. According to a tweet from Mwani Qatar yesterday, RORO, building materials, and livestock all saw increases of 196%, 5.3%, and 5.5%, respectively.
In the first half of 2023 (January to June), 1316 ships called at the three ports (Hamad Port, Ruwais Port, and Doha Port), handling 633,029 containers, 771,883 tonnes of general cargo, 274,694 tonnes of building materials, 40,162 vehicles, and 294,031 heads of livestock.
As 30% of all containers in 2022 were transshipped, Hamad Port saw a surge in transshipment activity in the previous year (2022). By making Hamad Port a more important gateway for transshipment in the region throughout the year 2022, Mwani Qatar maintained its efforts to turn Qatar into a thriving regional commerce hub, the company announced in January 2023.
3,031 ships made port calls at the three ports (Hamad Port, Ruwais Port, and Doha Port) in 2022, handling 1,435,252 containers, 1,596,826 tonnes of general cargo, 516,839 tonnes of building materials, 79,401 automobiles, and 205,608 heads of cattle.
“A total of 4,28,021 TEUs (containers) were transshipped through the Hamad Port in 2022, representing 30% of the total containers handled during the year,” Mwani Qatar had previously reported.
In a previous report, Mwani Qatar stated that the second container terminal (CT2) at Hamad Port, which is supported by a strong technological infrastructure, is expected to dramatically enhance Qatar’s share in overall Middle Eastern trade.
The advantageous geographic location of Hamad Port provides potential to develop freight flow southward toward Oman and northward towards the upper Gulf, which supports nations like Kuwait and Iraq. Hamad Port is being promoted as a transshipment hub for the upper Gulf and Oman, according to QTerminals, in support of ongoing attempts to draw additional shipping lines to the port.
As it accounted for the majority of port traffic, Hamad Port has taken the lead in growing Qatar’s maritime industry.
