Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — Container throughput at Saudi Arabia’s ports rose sharply in June 2025, reinforcing the Kingdom’s logistics ambitions. Data from the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) shows ports handled 696,839 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an 18.66% increase from 587,261 TEUs in June 2024.
Saudi Ports June 2025 Container Throughput Driven by Transshipment and Exports
Transshipment volumes surged 35.94% year-on-year to 164,999 TEUs. This reflects the growing role of Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdullah Port as key transshipment hubs in the Red Sea. Export containers increased by 17.79% to reach 268,587 TEUs. Import containers also grew, rising 10.68% to 263,253 TEUs. Together, these figures underscore Saudi Arabia’s growing presence as a regional trade hub.
The June growth follows a 13% increase in May 2025, when ports handled 720,684 TEUs. This pattern suggests a sustained upward trend, not a short-term spike.
Mawani Port Statistics: Cargo Volume Growth and Livestock Trends
The total cargo tonnage processed reached 21.46 million tons in June, a 1.74% increase from the same period a year earlier. This included:
- General cargo: 922,351 tons
- Solid bulk: 4,229,665 tons
- Liquid bulk: 16,312,054 tons
Livestock shipments dropped sharply. Only 959,188 heads were received, representing a 47.35% decrease from 1.82 million in June 2024. This may reflect tighter controls or changes in sourcing and local demand.
Ship Arrivals and Passenger Numbers Rise
Maritime activity showed broad strength. A total of 1,039 vessels called at Saudi ports in June, a 7.56% increase from the same month last year. Passenger traffic increased by 42.34% to 78,698, indicating growing interest in maritime tourism or a seasonal surge. However, vehicle imports fell 25.42% to 75,437 units, pointing to possible shifts in consumer demand or import strategy.
The Saudi Standard’s View: Container Surge Underscores Saudi Logistics Ambitions
June’s container surge highlights the success of Saudi Arabia’s port modernization strategy. Under Mawani’s leadership, facilities such as Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port are emerging as key anchors in global shipping routes. The 36% rise in transshipments indicates Saudi Arabia’s increasing significance as a Red Sea logistics hub—an outcome that aligns with Vision 2030’s non-oil diversification objectives.
While livestock and vehicle imports declined, these shifts suggest strategic recalibration rather than contraction. Smarter sourcing and rising local capacity could explain the trend. The continued growth in container traffic and vessel arrivals confirms that port upgrades, digital transformation, and private sector involvement are yielding positive results.
Saudi Arabia’s ports are not just moving more cargo—they are becoming indispensable to global trade flows.
