231 per cent increase in imported empty containers boost Saudi exports

The import volumes of empty containers by shipping lines registered a 231 per cent jump between January and May 2022 compared to the same period last year, according to numbers published by the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI).  

Empty imports rose from 20,985 TEU to 69,429 TEU.

This milestone is a direct result of the authority’s recent initiative that was launched in collaboration with container terminal operators to slash the handling charges of empty containers by half for one year.

MAWANI said the move has helped in reducing import costs and enabled shipping lines to expand their inventory of empty containers.

Earlier this month MAWANI announced it had recorded a significant increase in cargo throughput volumes reaching 27.1 million tonnes in June 2022.

In June MAWANI announced the addition of two new port calls, Shanghai and Singapore, to the Gulf China Service (GCS) in a bid to increase trade operations in King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam.