The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam has recently achieved a remarkable feat by processing a record number of 20,645 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from a single vessel, the COSCO SHIPPING AQUARIUS 036E. This event marks a significant milestone for the port, reflecting its critical role in bolstering trade and logistics in alignment with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy’s ambitions to establish the Kingdom as a leading global logistics hub.
This new benchmark not only emphasizes the port’s strategic importance but also showcases the successful efforts of the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) in enhancing the operational efficiency and preserving the competitive stature of the King Abdulaziz Port.
Consistent with its upward trajectory, the port has seen expansions in its infrastructure aimed at boosting its capacity. In the year 2024 alone, the addition of 21 quay cranes (QC) and RTG cranes was made under the commercial attribution agreements entered into by Mawani with Saudi Global Ports (SGP), backed by an investment of SAR7 billion.
In a significant move toward sustainable operations, SGP secured a contract with the top-tier Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer SANY for the delivery of 80 electric trucks. This deal is recognized as SANY’s most substantial global agreement for the production and provision of electric trucks.
Moreover, May 2024 saw King Abdulaziz Port set another container throughput benchmark, reaching 292,612 TEUs. The port stands as a principal conduit for international goods to the Kingdom’s eastern and central regions and is connected by rail to the Riyadh dry port.
Equipped with 43 fully functional berths, the port boasts an impressive handling capability for up to 105 million tons of diverse cargo and containers, further cementing its pivotal position in the region’s maritime trade landscape.