Hamad Port crosses 8mn container throughput mark since becoming operational

Hamad Port has crossed the 8mn container throughput milestone since the start of operations in December 2016, indicating the growing importance of Qatar in the regional and international maritime space.
"This significant achievement reinforces the confidence the shipping lines have in Hamad Port’s facilities and QTerminals’ safe services, competency and performance," the terminal operating company said in a tweet.
The achievement of the 8mn TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) mark will further encourage shipping lines to add Hamad Port in the rotation of their mainline services calling the Middle East region and use it as one of the regional transshipment hubs, according to QTerminals.
In 2022, Mwani Qatar continued its efforts to transform the country into a vibrant regional trade hub by strengthening the role of Hamad Port as a pivotal gateway for transshipment in the region.
Hamad Port's strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf, supporting countries such as Kuwait and Iraq and south towards Oman. Its total shipping lines network has reached 28, offering direct and indirect services to over 100 destinations around world.
The new services provide additional opportunities for direct trade between Qatar and the world, cementing the port’s role towards achieving the goals aimed at transforming Qatar into a vibrant regional trade hub, Mwani Qatar had said, adding it would also provide regular service, faster and cost-effective transit.
QTerminals, which bagged the “Best Container Terminal Operator” and “Best Port Infrastructure Development Company” for the year 2022 by International Finance Magazine, in December saw the commencement of the weekly India to East MED (Mediterranean) service.
The year also saw the commencement of the Gulf-Pakistan Express (GPX) service, Gulf-India Express 2 (GIX2), a fortnightly service connecting Hamad Port with Singapore.
A report from KPMG had earlier said container penetration in the Gulf Co-operation Council or GCC countries is more than six times that of the world average and significantly higher than that of major developed nations in the west.
The development of port-linked free trade zones has contributed to the success of the sector in the region, it said, adding the GCC port operators have continued to invest in infrastructure, expansion, and technology, increasing throughput capacity.
Umm Alhoul Free Zone, which is located directly beside Hamad Port, was established for sectors as maritime industries, heavy manufacturing, the emerging technologies and logistics hub.