SIMIC

Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) did not say which periods were being compared in the recording of the 117 per cent growth.

Mawani said JIP handled 60.6 million tons of cargo, as well as a total of 4.88 million TEU, a figure which included 2.76 million TEU of transshipments, in 2021.

"JIP represents an ideal launchpad towards Moroccan ports in view of its presence on the Red Sea maritime trade network, in addition to its world-class operating capabilities that include four terminals and 62 multipurpose berths with depths ranging from 7.5 metres to 18 metres over an area of 12.5 square kilometres, and an annual throughput capacity of 130 million tons," Mawani said.

In January, the launch of new shipping services from JIP was announced, bolstering partnerships with some of the world's largest shipping lines, such as Hapag Lloyd, CMA CGM, Cosco and ONE, and connecting the Middle East to Europe and North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent, through key ports, especially Tangier Med in Morocco and Algeciras in Spain.

It said one of the new lines would link JIP with the Indian Ocean and northern Europe. "The service will consist of seven vessels with a capacity equivalent to 8,500 TEU per vessel, 48 vessels per year, which will allow a greater cargo capacity," it said.