JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s ports saw a significant surge in cargo handling in 2024, with a total of 320.78 million tonnes of goods processed, representing a 14.45 percent year-on-year increase. This growth underscores the enhanced operational efficiency of the Kingdom’s maritime infrastructure.

According to the Saudi Ports Authority, container exports rose by 8.86 percent, reaching more than 2.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units, up from 2.59 million TEUs in 2023. Meanwhile, total cargo processed across the Kingdom’s ports in 2023 stood at 300.54 million tonnes.

Mawani highlighted that the results reflect the ongoing improvements in Saudi ports’ infrastructure and operational capabilities, which are pivotal in fostering a sustainable maritime sector and supporting the nation’s economic and trade growth. These advances align with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030, positioning the Kingdom as a global logistics hub.

Container imports also saw significant growth, increasing by 13.79 percent to reach 2.98 million TEUs, up from 2.62 million TEUs in 2023. Mawani’s announcement on Jan. 15 further noted that Saudi Arabia has climbed to 15th in the global ranking for container handling, as reported by the 2024 Lloyd’s List, reaffirming the Kingdom’s role as a key player in international logistics.

Three Saudi ports have now secured positions in the global top 100. Jeddah Islamic Port jumped from 41st to 32nd, King Abdullah Port advanced from 71st to 70th, and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam improved from 90th to 82nd.

The overall volume of general cargo grew by 30.39 percent, reaching nearly 10 million tonnes, compared to 7.65 million tonnes in 2023. Solid bulk goods saw a 6.23 percent rise, totaling 52.12 million tonnes, up from 49.06 million tonnes. Liquid bulk goods grew by 16.29 percent, reaching 177.44 million tonnes, up from 152.58 million tonnes. Additionally, livestock imports saw a 19.63 percent increase, totaling 9.72 million heads, up from 8.12 million in 2023.

However, the total number of containers handled fell by 10.93 percent, amounting to 7.52 million TEUs compared to 8.44 million TEUs in 2023. Transshipment containers also declined by 46.74 percent, totaling 1.72 million TEUs, down from 3.24 million TEUs in 2023.

Maritime traffic decreased by 4.56 percent, with a total of 11,579 vessels visiting Saudi ports, compared to 12,132 vessels in 2023. Passenger traffic also dropped by 27.02 percent, totaling 736,177 passengers, down from 1.01 million the previous year. The number of vehicles handled at Saudi ports fell by 4.38 percent, with 1.09 million cars processed, compared to 1.14 million in 2023.

In December 2024, Saudi ports saw a 9.27 percent increase in cargo volume, reaching 27.46 million tonnes, compared to 25.13 million tonnes in the same month the previous year. Container handling also rose by 5.77 percent, totaling 711,170 TEUs, up from 672,373 TEUs in December 2023.

Mawani also announced several major initiatives in 2024, including agreements and groundbreaking projects to establish eight new logistics parks and hubs at Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, with a combined private sector investment of approximately SR2.9 billion ($773 million). These efforts are part of a broader strategy to enhance the attractiveness of Saudi ports and reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a global trade and logistics center.

These initiatives are included in a larger SR10 billion investment plan aimed at developing 18 logistics parks across Saudi terminals, all overseen by Mawani. Notably, Mawani highlighted the opening of Maersk’s largest global logistics investment at Jeddah Islamic Port, a project worth SR1.3 billion, spanning 225,000 sq. meters.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s wealth extends beyond its oil and gas reserves, with its human capital as its most valuable asset, according to the country’s minister of industry and mineral resources.

Speaking at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Bandar Alkhorayef emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to developing its citizens as part of Vision 2030, describing human capital as “the most important asset that we have in this country”. 

During the forum, the minister also announced the inauguration of the Young Mining Professionals Association, a collaboration between the ministry and Saudi mining company Ma’aden, to further empower young talent in the sector. 

“Our Vision 2030 is very keen to ensure that everything we do, from an economic or sector development, is touching our people,” said Alkhorayef. 

“It is designed in a way that impacts people, people’s development, people’s opportunity for investment, entrepreneurs, but also job opportunities, quality job opportunities,” the minister said. 

He added: “I’m happy that our mining sector is very serious about ensuring that at the core part of what we are doing in our strategy, addressing how much impact we can bring to our people and especially to the youth of Saudi Arabia.” 

In a separate panel, Muhammad Al-Saggaf, president of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, echoed the minister’s sentiments, underscoring the critical role of talent in driving the Kingdom’s economic diversification. 

“In very simple terms, the mandate of KFUPM is to help expand the economy of Saudi Arabia. That is the mandate. We want to do our part that is to push forward an expansion of the base of the economy of the Kingdom,” he said. 

“What do you need to create new sectors?” Al-Saggaf asked. “You need two things: you need investment, and you need talent, and many times, strategists and planners focus a lot on investment, getting FDI (foreign direct investment) agreements, and so on. But talent is, as important, if not even more important, than the investment. And without it, you cannot actually achieve sector development in the way that the Kingdom and Vision 2030 wants.” 

He further explained the connection between investment and talent, describing it as “multiplicative” rather than additive. 

“If it were additive, you could make up for talent by adding investment, but that is not the case. In fact, the relationship between them is multiplicative. It is talent that amplifies and enables and allows the investment to achieve its goals, and without that talent, you will be multiplying by zero and you will be achieving nothing.” 

Al-Saggaf outlined three types of talent emerging from academic institutions. “The first type is the economy-burdening talent,” he said. 

“Those graduates who are unable to have the skills needed for today’s or tomorrow’s economy, and then they become a burden on the economy. They have to be re-skilled, or they take on menial jobs for which they spend years and they don’t need that training, if not, they become disgruntled because they are poor and unemployed and so on,” he added. 

“The second type, which is the largest type, is the economy-maintaining talent. Those are all the engineers and all the physicians, all the professors or the bankers or the lawyers who strive to maintain the progress of the current economy because the current economy has to continue to evolve and survive. And they are the largest portion of any economy this type, and they are essential and needed,” he explained. 

“But the most important type, as far as we are concerned. Our niche is type three. That’s the economy-creating talent. Those are the few who are going to go on to create the future jobs and create the future sectors,” he said. 

Al-Saggaf emphasized that KFUPM focuses on nurturing this talent. “This is why we tell all our students, and we have a number of our students in the audience today — when they get into KFUPM, you are not here to learn to get a job. If you get into KFUPM, it’s a very tough school to get into, you are implicitly guaranteed a job — that is not the objective. You are not here to learn to get a job. You are here to learn to create a job.” 

He also highlighted the university’s achievements in fostering diversity in engineering education. “KFUPM has the highest enrollment of females in engineering anywhere in the world with 50 percent, as opposed to 10-15 percent in global universities,” he said.