Outbound containers drive bumper March for Saudi ports

A significant increase in the number of exported containers from Saudi Arabia helped drive a spike in volumes for ports across the country, according to the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani). 

Exported containers rose 32 percent in March compared with the previous year. 280,341 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a common industry measurement, were exported compared to 212,672 TEUs in 2024. 

Total volumes at Saudi ports increased by 14 percent year on year in March.

Despite attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants against shipping in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia’s ports have remained resistant to disruption and have experienced steady growth in recent years.

Total cargo throughput tonnage, including general cargo, solid bulk and liquid bulk, rose by 9 percent, Mawani said.

Saudi ports also reported a 35 percent increase in passengers in March 2025 compared with 2024 – around 85,000 in total.

While overall volume was up, cattle volumes and trans-shipment containers declined.

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In February last year, Mawani said that it had completed a $270 million expansion of Jeddah Islamic Port, increasing the port’s handling capacity from 2.5 million containers to 6.2 million.

Saudi Arabia currently has three ports – Jeddah, Damman, and King Abdullah port – in the world’s top 100 ports by volume.

Saudi Arabia is targeting a national capacity of more than 40 million containers by 2030.