Container traffic rises 30% at Hamad Port

DOHA: Hamad Port is continuing to see huge rise in traffic. The QR27bn port witnessed a 30 percent rise in the handling of goods containers in July. The port handled 122,827 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) containers last month, according to Mwani Qatar data. It had handled 94,911 TEUs containers in June.

The strong momentum was also seen in vehicle movement. The port, which has a capacity to receive 500,000 vehicle per year, witnessed around 20 percent rise in the handling of vehicles. A total of 5,643 vehicles were handled last month compared to 4,708 vehicles handled by the port in June.

Last month, 133 commercial vessels called at Hamad Port which is one of the largest multi-purpose ports in the region.

It handled 61,280 tonnes of break bulk cargo in July while 8,005 tonnes of bulk cargo was handled during the month.

Since commencing operations in December 2016, Hamad Port has modernise the way Qatar handles imports and exports and has helped in facilitating the growth and diversification of the country’s economy. Within a short period of time, the port has reached a global port connectivity coverage with 40 ports spanning over three continents. The port has seen tremendous growth in a short duration and is further cementing Qatar’s position as a regional maritime hub.

The half yearly performance of the port has been robust in the current year, showing that the port is not only playing a crucial role in Qatar’s economy but is also now a major player in the regional maritime trade. The Port received 803 ships in the first six months of the current year and handled 644,824 TEUs containers in January-June period while handled 631,076 break-bulk cargo in the same period. It handled 132,325 bulk cargo; 341,793 heads of cattle and 32,084 units of vehicles in the first six months of the current year.

Hamad Port achieved an important milestone in April as it received the highest number of vessels during the months. A total of 148 commercial vessels called at Hamad Port which was the highest monthly number ever recorded since the start of operations at the port.

The port accomplished another feat in early this year as it celebrated, in March, handling of its first one million TEUs containers. The Port achieved this feat in less 14 months which was well ahead of its expected schedule. It plans to achieve the next one million container throughput by the end of this year.