Saudi Arabia’s ports experienced a notable 14.6% rise in container traffic in 2023, with both inbound and outbound movements increasing significantly, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Inbound container traffic reached 3.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), while outbound traffic hit 2.2 million TEUs. Outbound cargo totaled 203.5 million tonnes, indicating a surge in exports, with King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu handling the largest share at 89.8 million tonnes.
As part of its economic diversification strategy, Saudi Arabia is focusing on boosting non-oil exports. In 2023, inbound cargo amounted to 105.1 million tonnes, with Jeddah Islamic Port managing the highest volume at 38.9 million tonnes.
Ship traffic at Saudi ports also saw a 33.8% increase, with a total of 19,082 ships. King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu led with 6,538 ships, followed by Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam.
In 2023, Saudi ports handled 334 million tonnes of cargo, comprising 121.3 million tonnes of unloaded cargo and 213 million tonnes of loaded cargo. Jeddah Islamic Port recorded the highest unloaded cargo volume, while King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu had the highest loaded cargo volume.
Passenger traffic grew by 11.5%, with over 1 million travelers. Jazan Port managed the most passengers, totaling 484,598. Additionally, the number of cranes at Saudi ports reached 989, and the total port area covered 104 sq. km, with Ras Al Khair Port being the largest at 23 sq. km.