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Sohar Port and Freezone posts strong growth in Q1

10 Jul 2021

Sohar Port and Freezone announced impressive results for the first quarter of 2021, recording growth in all categories of cargo handling.

As the rapidly growing complex continues to transform the sultanate’s burgeoning maritime and logistics industries, Sohar Port and Freezone reported that throughput in the first quarter increased by 21 per cent over the same period in 2020.

Dry bulk volumes at the port grew by 25 per cent to almost 9mn tonnes, breakbulk handling grew by 7 per cent to 426,783 tonnes and liquid bulk increased by 7 per cent to just over 4mn tonnes.

The number of handled containers increased by 1.8 per cent to 197,000 TEUs during January – March period of 2021. In addition, Sohar Port also recorded spectacular growth of 200 per cent in ship-to-ship (STS) cargo given its strategic location and reputation for delivering unmatched quality of service with quick turnaround times.

Mark Geilenkirchen, CEO of Sohar Port, in a statement said the year-on-year throughput growth at the port has transformed the sultanate’s capacity for worldwide trade.

“The first quarter results for 2021 show that there is very strong demand for raw materials for industry and consumer goods, fuelled by the recovery of economies around the world. Our robust business continuity strategy and advantageous position at the crossroads of global trade routes has helped us to manage increased levels of cargo traffic and ensure a seamless and uninterrupted flow of operations to support the national economy,” he said.

Omar Mahmood al Mahrizi, CEO of Sohar Freezone and deputy CEO of Sohar Port, said, “Sohar Port and Freezone is positioned as a logistics gateway and is integral to bringing in the requisite goods to clients within the freezone and industries in the region relying on a steady flow of materials. Further expansion of the port will increase Oman’s role as an international trade hub allowing us to attract more leading global partners and establish ourselves as the ideal location for business outside the Gulf.” 

Sohar Port and Freezone is renowned as one of the fastest-growing complexes of its kind in the world and is currently undergoing significant developments within its industrial cluster. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it offers a myriad of incentives for businesses and investors, including easy set-up facilities and a One-Stop-Shop for regulatory procedures.

Meanwhile, the port’s own unique online route planner, ‘Sohar Navigate’, has been specifically designed to help companies use container transportation in smarter ways for their supply chain.

As one of the fastest-growing ports in the world, Sohar Port and Freezone continues to build on its strategic location and enhance its services, positioning itself as a key logistics hub within the region and across the world.

Sohar Port, after 17 years of operations, serves as the main gateway for import and export in Oman, contributing 2.8 per cent of the country’s GDP and almost 26,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.

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