Hamad Port has seen 1.421mn twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers during 2024, reflecting a 9% jump on an annualised basis, according to Mwani Qatar.The container growth was seen maximum at 52% in June 2024; while April 2024 had seen the maximum decline of 17%. Six of the 12 months had witnessed contraction in the container movement through Hamad Port.The port also saw a 23% year-on-year rise in transshipment, reaching 683,552 TEUs, which accounted for 48% of the total containers handled, Mwani Qatar said in its 2024 annual report, which was released on Sunday.The export and import TEUs were 274,436 and 472,927, accounting for 19% and 33% of the total containers in the review period. The export and import containers were down 0.4% and 1% respectively on an annualised basis.Hamad Port, Qatar’s main gateway to world trade, in 2024 reached a major milestone by handling 10mn TEUs since beginning operations in December 2016, highlighting the port’s vital role in maritime logistics and its robust capabilities, making it a preferred hub for international shipping companies.Year-to-date berth utilisation stood at 45% for CT2 (second container terminal) and 17% in the case of CT1, it said.The berth utilisation was high as 52% and as low as 33% in March and April for CT2. In CT1, the yard utilisation was as high as 20% in March and October 2024 and as low as 12% in August 2024.Additionally, the port managed 1.018mn tonnes of general cargo; 399,554 tonnes of bulk cargo; 130,332 units of RORO (vehicles); and 20,000 livestock heads; marking 62% and 115% growth respectively with the arrival of as many as 1,578 vessels.Of the 1,578 vessels in 2024, as many as 1,452 were cargo vessels; 118 were offshore vessels; and eight were naval ships. The bulk and car carrier witnessed 79% and 10% growth year-on-year in 2024; whereas general cargo, offshore supply and container shrank 24%, 6% and 4% respectively.Of the 1,578 vessels in 2024; the report said containers were as many as 1,071 or contributed 68% to the total; followed by general cargo 179 (11%), car carrier 175 (11%), offshore supply 118 (7%), bulk 25 (2%), and naval 8 (1%).In 2024, the gate moves -- which help track the movement of containers and cargo within the facility, ensure accurate inventory management, and facilitate efficient handling and processing of shipments - were seen highest at 41,275 in July and the lowest at 34,244 in February.The average truck turnaround time - which is the total time a truck spends in the dock area picking up or dropping off a container - was 23 hours in 2024 compared to 23 hours in 2023.

Santhosh V. Perumal
Santhosh V. Perumal, a postgraduate in Econometrics with an advance qualification in Capital Markets and Financial Services, is Gulf Times' journalist. His coverage areas are debt and equity, hydrocarbons, international trade, environment, banks, insurance and real estate. Previously, he was in New Delhi, India as Senior Finance Correspondent of PTI.
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