Qatar's ports see second highest monthly container handling in June 2024

Qatar's ports achieved the second-highest monthly container handling rate in June 2024, with over 144,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), registering a 51% jump over the same period last year, according to the official data.This growth was accompanied by a rise in handling volumes of general and bulk cargo as well as livestock and RORO (vehicles) as Qatar's maritime sector saw more vessels calling on Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports, according to the data of Mwani Qatar.The positive momentum in the ports reflects the optimistic outlook, especially for the country’s non-energy private sector, as indicated by the latest purchasing managers’ index of the Qatar Financial Centre.The number of ships calling on Qatar's three ports stood at 242 in June 2024, which saw 22.64% increase year-on-year but was flat on a monthly basis.Hamad Port, whose strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf, supporting countries such as Kuwait and Iraq and south towards Oman, saw as many as 123 vessels call (excluding military) in the review period.A total of 1,323 ships had called on the three ports during the first six months of this year.The general and bulk cargo handled through the three ports surged 162.51% on an annualised basis to 56,934 freight tonnes in June 2024. However, it was seen declining 73.33% month-on-month in June 2024.Hamad Port – whose multi-use terminal is designed to serve the supply chains for the RORO, grains and livestock – handled 34,768 freight tonnes of breakbulk in June 2024.A total of 873,208 freight tonnes of general and bulk cargoes were handled by the three ports during January-June 2024.The container handling through the three ports saw 50.98 and 17.29% year-on-year and month-on-month jump respectively to 144,884 TEUs in June this year.The container terminals have been designed to address the increasing trade volume, enhance ease of doing business and support economic diversification, which is one of the most vital goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.Hamad Port, which is the largest eco-friendly project in the region and internationally recognised as one of the largest green ports in the world, saw 144,749 TEUs this June.The container volume at the three ports totalled 706,983 TEUs during January-June 2024.The three ports handled 15,680 RORO in June 2024, which registered 107.87% and 47.48% growth year-on-year and month-on-month respectively in June 2024.Hamad Port alone handled 15,644 units this May. A total of 55,944 RORO units were handled by three ports during January-June 2024.Qatar's automobile sector has been witnessing stronger sales, especially in heavy equipment, private motorcycles and private vehicles, according to the latest data of the National Planning Council.The three ports were seen handling 59,129 livestock in June 2024, which zoomed 149.15% and 1.29% on an annualised and monthly basis respectively. As many as 358,201 livestock heads were handled by three ports during the first six months of this year.The building materials traffic through the three ports stood at 22,504 tonnes this June, which declined 45.3% and 43.87% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively.As much as 229,415 tonnes of building materials were handled by Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports during January-June this year.