King Abdullah on course for 4m teu capacity

The port’s strategic expansion plan aims to significantly uprate its capacity which in turn hopes to boost its standing in the maritime industry, both regionally and internationally.

Eng. Abdullah Hameedadin, managing director of the Ports Development Company, the owner and developer of King Abdullah Port, said: “With the two new berths, the port’s annual capacity will rise to four million teu as of the beginning of the first quarter of 2017.”

“This will extend the port’s reach to the most important trade hubs in the region and the world, solidifying the roles of the private sector in general, and King Abdullah Port in particular, in achieving Vision 2030,” he added.

King Abdullah Port’s annual throughput rose to 1.27m teu last year and figure is expected to continue rising despite the challenges faced by the market and a slowing down of global economic growth. The port’s annual capacity had risen by 25% to reach about 3m.

Management of King Abdullah Port will to finalise the first phase of bulk cargo terminals with a capacity of 3m tonnes, in addition to the RORO terminals with a capacity of 300,000 CEU by the beginning of 2017.

This comes following the announcement of the strategic move of signing an SAR2.7bn financial agreement with both SABB and ANB.