An about 10-fold growth in the container traffic through Hamad Port helped Qatar register an impressive expansion in net tonnage during November 2019, according to the official estimates.
The container traffic through Qatar ports witnessed about 9% year-on-year increase to 5.75mn tonnes in November last year, said the data released by the Planning and Statistics Authority. On a monthly basis, the net tonnage grew more than 11%.
The total number of vessels calling on Qatar ports stood at 491, which, however, registered 6% and 10% decline respectively on annual and monthly basis respectively in November 2019.
The official data was devoid of details regarding number of vessels and net tonnage through Ras Laffan port in November 2019.
Hamad Port, which has seen the world’s largest shipping companies seek entry and growth in the Qatari and regional markets, berthed 137 vessels in November 2019, which saw more than 7% and 8% shrinkage year-on-year and month-on-month respectively.
The container traffic through the port stood at 2.48mn tonnes in November, which recorded about 10-fold growth on yearly basis, even as it saw 6% decline month-on-month.
Hamad Port’s strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf, supporting countries such as Kuwait and Iraq, and south towards Oman, QTerminals chief executive Neville Bissett had earlier said.
In November 2019, total exports (free on board) of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) grew about 11% on a monthly basis but showed a 13% decline on a yearly basis. Qatar's total imports (valued at cost insurance and freight) showed a 16% growth month-on-month and 2% on a yearly basis.
Mesaieed Port berthed as many as 115 vessels in November, which showed 22% and 15% plunge year-on-year and month-on-month and the net tonnage showed 25% and 4% decline respectively to 1.7mn tonnes.
Al Ruwais Port had seen 215 vessels berthed in November last year, which registered more than 3% growth year-on-year but registered about 14% shrinkage on a monthly basis. The net tonnage through the port was 29,000 tonnes, which saw 17% and 19% fall on yearly and monthly basis respectively.
Besides the usual handling of general cargoes, the port is now handling the increased demand of foodstuff and other commodities. Al Ruwais port provides a ready solution by acting as gateway for fresh commodities from neighbouring countries.
Haloul Port saw as many as nine vessels berthed in November last year against seven the previous month. The net tonnage through the port almost quadrupled to 922,000 tonnes on a yearly basis. It reported 44% expansion on a monthly basis
Doha Port berthed 15 vessels during November 2019, showing 50% and 88% growth year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. The container traffic stood at 625,000 tonnes, which more than doubled on a yearly basis and showed about seven-fold growth on monthly basis.