HAMAD Port, one of the biggest ports in the region, has added another feather to its cap. Last week, Hamad Port was awarded ‘Economic Diversification Project of the Year’ by The Business Year. Since commencing 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. It has acquired 28 percent share in the volume of trade in the Middle East. Hamad Port is currently handling more than 24 direct services of all the major global shipping lines every week. These direct mainline services have opened various new trade routes and opportunities to bolster the growth of trade and industry in Qatar. The Port is instrumental in the efficient shipping of products that companies handle for clients. It is also playing a major role in securing the needs of local markets and projects implemented by Qatar, ensuring access of Qatari products to the global markets. Despite challenging situations created by COVID-19 outbreak, Hamad Port – Qatar’s gateway to world trade – has wrapped up a successful year. The Port has registered an increase in vessels’ arrival and cargo handling in 2020 which indicates port’s growing importance in regional trade. Last year, Hamad Port achieved a record container volume for the fourth straight year in a row with transshipment volumes rising by 106 percent. The increase in transshipments is an important sign of the port’s role in the region. The port, in 2020, handled over 1.4 million TwentyFoot Equivalent Units (TEUs) containers and received 1,600 vessels. According to figures released by QTerminals, the terminal operating company providing services at Hamad Port, the Port handled 1.4 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units containers; 304, 481 tonnes of bulk cargo; 1,196,559 tonnes of general cargo; 59,443 vehicles; and 264,164 heads of livestock last year. In 2019, Hamad Port had received 1,545 vessels while it had handled over 1.3 million TEUs containers; 182,669 tonnes of bulk cargo; 625,532 tonnes of general cargo; 76,501 vehicles; and 374,395 heads of livestock. Hamad Port handled around seven percent more TEU containers in 2020 when compared to the previous year (2019). Hamad Port’s strong capabilities, modern facilities, and advanced systems will position Qatar as a re-export hub in the region, increasing the volume of trade between Qatar and the rest of the world. The port has seen tremendous growth in a short duration and is further cementing Qatar’s position as a regional maritime hub.
