The Khalifa Port Container Terminal, operated by UAE-based Abu Dhabi Terminals, has seen a 36 percent surge in cargo volumes during the first ten months of 2015 compared to the same period last year.
The terminal moved 1.204,993 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units), up from 889,165 TEUs in the same period in 2014. The port said that October was its busiest single month in this year, when it handled 157,673 TEUs.
In the same period, general and bulk cargo edged up 20 per cent to 12.596,956 million freight tonnes (FT) from 10.469,374 million FT last year.
Roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) traffic saw 29 per cent rise with 110,831 vehicles, up from 85,835 vehicles last year. In 2015, all RoRo operations were transferred to Khalifa Port from Zayed Port to meet the growing demand from the automotive sector in the UAE. Currently, Khalifa Port offers a capacity of about 350,000 vehicles a year.
“Our double digit growth in all three cargo sectors, especially the top performance at our flagship Khalifa Port, has a special significance on the backdrop of a slowdown in the global maritime industry. Our growth is set to continue throughout this year,” said Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports.