Saudi Ports Record 14 Percent Surge in October Container Handling
Jeddah Islamic Port achieves historic milestone as national container volumes climb significantly.
1Historic Surge in Throughput
Saudi ports reported a 14 percent year-on-year increase in container handling during October 2026. Total volume reached approximately 866,200 TEUs, rising from 759,800 TEUs in October 2025. This growth highlights the nation's expanding role in global trade logistics, despite fluctuations in other maritime metrics like total cargo tonnage and vessel traffic.
2Jeddah Port Record Performance
Jeddah Islamic Port achieved its highest monthly container volume ever, processing 582,900 TEUs in October. This figure represents a 27.45 percent increase over the previous record established in June. The Saudi Ports Authority attributes this performance to enhanced operational efficiency and the port's ability to accommodate rapid shifts in global trade volumes.
3Inbound and Outbound Growth
The overall growth was primarily driven by rising import and export activity. Inbound containers grew by 8.53 percent to reach 305,600 TEUs, while outbound containers increased by 4.83 percent to 282,900 TEUs. These figures demonstrate a robust demand for goods moving through Saudi gateways, supporting the continuity of essential national supply chains.
4Transshipment and Transit Trends
While container handling rose, transshipment containers experienced a decline of 10.54 percent, falling to 186,400 TEUs from 208,400 TEUs in the previous year. Meanwhile, transit containers accounted for 91,300 TEUs during the month. These shifts reflect changing patterns in regional logistics and the specific cargo mix moving through Saudi maritime infrastructure hubs.
5Contrasting Cargo and Traffic
Total cargo tonnage handled across all ports fell by 11.7 percent to 22.36 million tons. This included 9.48 million tons of liquid bulk and 4.44 million tons of solid bulk cargo. Additionally, maritime traffic saw a 9.62 percent decrease in vessel arrivals, totaling 1,500 ships compared to 1,600 in the same period last year.
6Passenger and Vehicle Shifts
Passenger traffic declined by 8.96 percent to 87,600 travelers, down from 96,200 in October 2025. The number of vehicles handled saw a sharper drop of 41.46 percent, totaling 65,500 units. These decreases contrast with the strong performance in containerized freight, indicating varied demand across different segments of the Saudi maritime logistics sector.
7Livestock Import Surge
Livestock imports showed significant growth, increasing by 30.98 percent to reach 725,100 head. This compares to 553,600 head handled during the same month in 2025. This substantial rise in livestock volume provides a notable exception to the downward trends observed in other non-containerized cargo categories and general maritime traffic metrics during October.
8Strategic Operational Outlook
The October data underscores the complex performance of Saudi ports, balancing record container throughput with declines in bulk cargo and vessel arrivals. As the Saudi Ports Authority continues to modernize, the focus remains on maintaining supply chain continuity. Future monitoring will determine if container growth can offset the broader declines in tonnage.
Original article: Saudi Gazette — Saudi Ports Record 14 Percent Surge in October Container Handling