Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports have reported brisk activities in July compared to June; indicating normalcy being restored in Qatar’s maritime sector despite Covid-19 challenges.
More ships called on these ports and there was a robust month-on-month expansion in the handling of building materials, livestock and automobiles (RORO), while general cargo movement saw a healthy double-digit yearly expansion; indicating the smooth flow of trade, according to performance statistics by Mwani Qatar, which is responsible for managing the nation's sea-ports and shipping terminals.
The number of ships calling on these ports stood at 276 in July this year, representing a 15.97% growth on a monthly basis, while it declined 26.79% on a yearly basis.
As many as 1,785 ships called on the ports during the first seven months of this year against 2,308 the year-ago period.
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.
A dozen mobile cranes are expected to reach Hamad Port later this month, which comes as part of operationalising the 403,500 sqm container terminal 2 (CT2) by the end of fourth quarter (Q4) of this year.
The three ports handled 28,980 livestock in July this year, which witnessed a stupendous 46.27% surge on a monthly basis. Nevertheless, it fell 50.27% year-on-year. The three ports had seen a cumulative figure of 334,484 heads during January-July 2020 compared to 483,251 in the corresponding period of 2019.
The building materials handled through these ports amounted to 27,535 tonnes in July this year, which soared 27.28% month-on-month; but shrank 7.1% on a yearly basis. A total of 172,381 tonnes of building materials had been handled by these three ports during the first seven months of this year against 248,510 tonnes a year ago period.
Container handling through the three ports stood at 123,156 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), which increased 5.94% and 1.44% on a monthly and yearly basis respectively in July 2020. Container movement totalled 786,555 TEUs during January-July this year, thus registering about 2% on an annual basis.
The ports handled a total of 3,469 vehicles (RORO), which grew 6.54% month-on-month; even as it plummeted 51.02% on a yearly basis in July. A total of 36,248 units moved through these ports during January-July this year compared to 40,619 units the previous year period.
General cargo movement through the three ports saw a stupendous 38.6% yearly increase to 125,783 tonnes this July. However, it saw 22.14% decline month-on-month.
The cumulative general cargo movement through the three ports reached 853,499 tonnes during the first seven months of this year against 538,349 tonnes in the comparable period of 2019.
Mwani Qatar is committed to building more efficient and sustainable supply chains that promotes economic development in line with the Ministry of Transport and Communications' strategic plan, aiming to transform the country into a vibrant regional commercial hub.
Besides the usual handling of general cargoes, the Al Ruwais port is now handling the increased demand of foodstuff and other commodities. It also provides a ready solution by acting as a gateway for fresh commodities from neighbouring countries.
