SOHAR Port and Freezone recorded a 52% year-on-year surge in cargo throughput during the first half of the year, processing 52 million metric tonnes. This growth highlights the port's expanding capacity to manage regional and international trade demands through its integrated maritime, logistics, and industrial infrastructure. Ship-to-ship cargo handling alone accounted for 24.38 million metric tonnes.
Container throughput at SOHAR increased by 40%, reaching 545,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This rise was primarily fueled by a significant increase in transshipment activities, indicating the port's growing role as a regional hub. Furthermore, breakbulk cargo volumes nearly doubled, reflecting a broader increase in diverse cargo types.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this substantial growth at SOHAR Port suggests enhanced operational efficiency and potentially increased capacity for various cargo types, particularly containers and breakbulk. The rise in transshipment activity could offer more routing options and improved connectivity for shipments destined for or originating from the region. The doubling of breakbulk cargo also signals a robust demand for project and oversized cargo handling, which could benefit forwarders specializing in these niche sectors. Increased throughput generally indicates a healthy and expanding port ecosystem, potentially leading to more competitive services and improved schedule reliability.
