Qatar is growing fastest in the region irrespective of the unjust siege imposed on it by some countries. It’s reflected in every sphere of life when one looks at the various data coming out each month. Also, Qatar’s existing relationships around the world have continued to flourish, while new markets and opportunities are constantly being identified.
Qatar’s growth story is well-showcased in the development of various sectors and institutions. One such example is that of the Hamad Port. The Port has achieved yet another milestone in the pursuit to support the growth story of the country.
The Port has registered a stellar performance in the first half of the year. The Port has received 803 ships in the first six months of the current year and handled 644,824 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) containers in January-June period, while handled 631,076 break-bulk cargo in the same period. It handled 132,325 bulk cargo; 341,793 heads of cattle and 32,084 units of vehicles in the first six months of this year.
The growth story is showing positive signs each passing month. It had received 936 ships during January to July period. The Port, which is one of the largest ports in the region, received 128 ships in August, taking the total count of ships called at the port to 1,064 so far this year.
The Port witnessed increased traffic in various segments in August. The bulk cargo category saw the highest increase as it handled 31,392 tonnes bulk cargo in August compared to 8,005 tonnes such cargo in July, showing a whopping rise of 292 percent.
The Port handled 63,858 tonnes of break bulk cargo in August compared to 61,280 tonnes of cargo in the previous month, reflecting a rise of four percent. The Port also handled 112,749 TEU containers last month. It also handled 10,946 heads of cattle and 4,929 vehicles in August.
Since it commenced its operations in December 2016, Hamad Port has modernised the way Qatar handles imports and exports and has helped in facilitating the growth and diversification of the country’s economy. Within a short span, the port has reached a global port connectivity coverage with 40 ports in three continents.
The port has seen tremendous growth in a short duration and is further cementing Qatar’s position as a regional maritime hub.
Generally, ports in Qatar have played significant role in defeating the unjust siege imposed by blockading countries by ensuring smooth supply of goods for residents of Qatar. In 2017, the ports in Qatar handled 1.26 million tonnes of general cargo, 772,835 TEUs containers, 857,429 cattle heads and 578,654 tonnes of aggregates and 3,869 vessels.
All these developments show vigour and vitality of the economy of the country under the able and wise leadership.
