Khalifa Port registers double-digit growth in Q1 2016

Abu Dhabi - RoRo volumes up 31%; general and bulk cargo increases 13%

Abu Dhabi's Khalifa Port has reported double-digit growth in two major cargo segments during the first quarter of 2016.

Roll-on-roll-off, or RoRo, traffic at Khalifa Port witnessed a 31 per cent increase with 33,687 vehicles, up from 25,709 vehicles in the same period in 2015. The trend highlights Khalifa Port's growing status as a premier RoRo hub in the region with its yard and facilities that could cater to the growing demand.

Meanwhile, general and bulk cargo across Abu Dhabi Ports saw a 13 per cent upturn, and stood at 3.98 million freight tonnes, as compared to 3.5 million freight tonnes registered in the first quarter of 2015. The increased volume of general and bulk cargo indicates vigorous import and export activities related to the industrial and infrastructure development projects in the emirate.

Increased business activities of companies operating across the emirate, especially in the Kizad and Musaffah industrial area, have also contributed to this growth.

The first quarter results for Khalifa Port Container Terminal, which is operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals - a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, showed that it handled five per cent more containers compared with the same period in 2015.

The terminal moved 316,996 twenty foot equivalent units/containers (TEUs), up from 302,151 TEUs in the first quarter of 2015. Continuing on last year's upward trend, the container cargo volumes indicate increasing demand from the Abu Dhabi market.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: "These achievements demonstrate Abu Dhabi Ports' commitment to its strategy of sustaining performance and growth across all its operations. With the guidance of our leadership coupled with the support from our stakeholders and the UAE's economic stability, we are able to witness such success."

"We aim to continue investing in innovative technologies and solutions, remaining customer-focused in our service offerings and in building the capabilities of our national workforce," Al Shamisi added.

Khalifa Industrial Zone also witnessed increased business activities during the first quarter of 2016. Four prominent companies, including KSB Service and Polysys Additive Technologies Middle East, commenced operations from within the industrial zone; and National Food Products Company and Gulf Printing and Packaging Company, started construction of their facilities.

Kizad has more than 90 national and international investors, and 13 million square metres of land leased that represent a total investment of more than Dh55 billion. Khalifa Port's current capacity is 2.5 million TEUs and 12 million tonnes of general cargo. Abu Dhabi Ports manages 10 commercial, logistics, community and leisure ports, and Khalifa Industrial Zone serves a range of logistics and manufacturing investors.

- haseeb@khaleejtimes.com

• Infrastructure