SOHAR Port and Freezone in Oman has announced a considerable expansion in its cargo operations for the first half of 2026. The port handled a total of 52 million metric tons of cargo, marking a 52% rise compared to the same period in the previous year. This growth was also reflected in container traffic, which saw a 40% increase, reaching 545,000 TEUs. The primary factor contributing to this surge in container throughput was an uplift in transshipment volumes.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this significant growth at SOHAR Port indicates enhanced capacity and potentially improved connectivity for shipments routed through the Middle East. The increase in transshipment volumes suggests that SOHAR is strengthening its position as a regional hub, which could offer more routing options and potentially more competitive rates for cargo moving to and from the region. Shippers might benefit from greater schedule reliability and frequency due to the increased activity.
