Port of Salalah H1 container throughput up to 920,000 TEUs
The Port of Salalah handled its highest quarterly container volume in the port’s 14-year history during the second quarter of 2012, recording a throughput of 920,000 TEUs, reported News Bites.
For the first half of 2012, container volumes grew by 13 percent and non-container volumes by four percent against the previous year.
The growth seen is set against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty.
Further, a number of companies have recently signed up for investment in Salalah Port and Free Zone that will see massive increases in cargo growth and job creation.
To facilitate this growth Port of Salalah and the Government of Oman are expanding the general cargo terminal and expect to double the amount of non-container cargo through the port by the end of 2014.
Port revenue grew by nine percent to US$72.5 million in the first half compared to $66.3 million in r the same half-year period last year, while the company’s net profits jumped to $8.4 million, compared to $2.2 million.
Peter Ford, CEO of Port of Salalah said, "The positive financial results indicate that our customers see great value in Salalah as a hub. The new feeders introduced in April and July of this year, connecting Salalah with Jebel Ali, Muscat and now with Mumbai, are being well received by customers. With the new general cargo terminal expansion and diversification into liquid bulk we expect to grow the diversity of customers utilising the Port of Salalah for its choice location and incentives."
The Port of Salalah is Oman’s largest port. The port is partly owned and managed by APM Terminals. The port has seven berths of up to 18m draft and a general cargo terminal with 12 berths of up to 16m draft.