Cargo movement registers huge rise at ports in May

Doha: Ports in Qatar have registered strong growth in cargo movement in May, driven by a sharp rise in the number of ships coming to Qatari waters.  A total of 373 vessels called at Hamad Port, Ruwais Port and Doha Port last month, compared to 279 vessels in April this year, reflecting a significant, month-on-month increase of around 34 percent.

These ports handled 46,691 tonnes of general cargo in May against 39,635 tonnes of general cargo in April, showing an increase of 18 percent.

Similar rising trend was visible in building materials categories as these ports handled 46,173 tonnes of building materials during last month, compared to 35,715 tonnes in the previous month, registering a strong rise of around 30 percent.

These ports handled 115,039 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU),  78,490 livestock heads and 5,328 vehicles in May.

A total of 110,209 livestock were handled during April this year, compared to 62,053 livestock in March, showing an increase of 78 percent.

Hamad Port dominated in the cargo movement in the country as it occupied substantial share in total cargo handling in May. The port, which is one of the largest ports in the region, received 125 ships last month. It handled 111,837 TEU containers last month, and 36,007 tonnes of break bulk cargo, Qterminals said in a tweet yesterday. Qterminals was set up by Qatar Navigation (Milaha) and Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) to manage the port.

Hamad Port handled 30,211 heads of cattle and 5,269 vehicles last month. Opening of Hamad Port has played a key role in breaking the blockade as it ensured normal supply goods in the country.
Hamad Port has been designed in a way that makes it expandable.

Qatar’s maritime sector has fared well so far this year which was confirmed in the quarterly cargo movement. The ports handled 110,938 tonnes of building materials during the first quarter of this year, showing a growth of 37 percent, compared to the same quarter last year.

The ports received 321,345 containers during the first quarter of 2019, registering 3 percent increase over the same period of 2018. The number of cruise passengers also surged as Doha Port witnessed the arrival of 89,188 passengers during the quarter, showing a massive growth of 99 percent compared to the first quarter of last year.

The ports handled 17,141 units of vehicles while 227,554 tonnes of general cargo during the first quarter. The ports handled 235,053 livestock during the quarter. A total of 958 ships called at these ports during the first quarter of 2019.

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