Ports overseen by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) recorded exceptional performance during 2025, achieving a significant increase in container handling operations of 10.58%, reaching a total of 8,317,235 TEUs, compared to 7,521,306 TEUs in 2024. This growth is a culmination of ongoing efforts to develop the infrastructure of Saudi ports and enhance their operational efficiency.
Enhancing the Kingdom's logistical standing
These figures cannot be read in isolation from the general economic context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as this leap in performance is in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy stemming from Saudi Vision 2030. This strategy aims to consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub linking the three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe), taking advantage of its strategic geographical location on the coasts of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, through which a large part of global trade passes.
Details of container operational performance
Statistics provided a detailed breakdown of container traffic, with transshipment containers growing by 11.78% to reach 1,927,348 TEUs, reflecting increasing confidence in Saudi ports as key transshipment hubs in the region. Regarding foreign trade:
- Outgoing containers: rose by 11.72% to reach 3,146,003 containers, indicating growth in non-oil national exports.
- Incoming containers: Recorded an increase of 8.82% to 3,243,884 containers, in response to increasing local demand.
Cargo and passenger traffic
In terms of cargo tonnage handled, which includes general cargo and bulk cargo (solid and liquid), the ports recorded a slight increase of 1.06%, totaling over 242 million tons. This amount was distributed as follows: 12 million tons for general cargo, 176 million tons for liquid bulk, and 53 million tons for solid bulk.
In the maritime tourism and transportation sector, passenger numbers jumped significantly by 47.07% to reach over 1.08 million passengers, reflecting the boom in the maritime tourism sector and the development of passenger terminals at Saudi ports. Despite a 17.98% decrease in the number of ships, the increased handling volumes indicate the arrival of mega-ships with greater capacity, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs.
Economic and developmental impact
These positive indicators are directly reflected in the national economy, as increased port efficiency contributes to supporting global supply chains, enhancing the Kingdom's food security, and stimulating the industrial and commercial sectors. Furthermore, the growth in import and export operations underscores the dynamism of the Saudi economy and its capacity for expansion and growth.
It is worth noting that December 2025 alone witnessed a 12.50% increase in container handling, confirming the continued upward momentum in operational performance towards the end of the year, and promising further achievements in the coming years.
