RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ports saw robust growth in 2024, with exports climbing 9.3 percent to 222.4 million tonnes, pushing total cargo volumes to 334.5 million tonnes and reinforcing the Kingdom’s expanding role in global trade.
Data from the General Authority for Statistics showed that King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu led in exports, handling 114 million tonnes — or 51 percent of the total. Imports also rose 3.6 percent to 108.9 million tonnes last year.
The surge in cargo aligns with Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy under Vision 2030, which seeks to position the Kingdom as a global logistics hub connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.
GASTAT’s report highlighted container activity, noting that more than 2.5 million inbound and outbound containers were handled in 2024, including 1.3 million outbound and over 1.2 million inbound units. Of these, 20-foot containers exceeded 1.3 million, while 40-foot containers surpassed 1.1 million, alongside roughly 1,400 containers of other sizes.
In terms of port throughput, Yanbu led with 39.8 percent, followed by King Fahad Industrial Port in Jubail at 19 percent. King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam accounted for 15.5 percent, Jeddah Islamic Port handled 14.1 percent, and the remaining 11.6 percent was distributed among other ports nationwide.
King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam also received the largest share of imports, totaling 38 million tonnes (35 percent of inbound cargo), while Yanbu dominated exports with 114 million tonnes (51 percent of outbound shipments).
Liquid bulk cargo topped all categories, exceeding 177 million tonnes, underscoring the continued importance of oil and petrochemical trade. Transshipment cargo surpassed 21 million tonnes, including nearly 11 million tonnes loaded and 10.4 million tonnes unloaded — equivalent to around 2 million standard containers.
Vessel traffic remained strong, with 8,693 ships docking at Saudi ports. Jeddah Islamic Port received the highest volume at 3,805 vessels, followed by King Abdulaziz Port with 1,980, Neom Port with 951, and Yanbu with 554.
Passenger traffic, however, fell 19.6 percent from 2023, totaling 912,800 travelers. Jazan Port recorded the highest passenger activity at over 485,000, followed by Jeddah Islamic Port with 217,600 and Neom Port with 205,100.
Compiled using data from the Saudi Ports Authority and related entities, the annual maritime report provides valuable insights into the flow of goods, passengers, and vessels, offering a foundation for future transport sector planning and development.
