Market update
Saudi ports posted double-digit transshipment growth in August 2026 — better feeder connectivity and schedule choice for cargo moving into and through the Kingdom, even as headline tonnage dipped on liquid bulk.
Published · Midtrans Shipping And Services
Reviewed by Khaldoun Al-Khouli, General Manager
How August's box growth affects Saudi-routed connectivity.
Growth
Saudi ports handled 14.7% more transshipment volume in August 2026, reaching 189,407 TEU, while total container throughput rose 9.5% to 750,634 TEU, and vessel calls climbed 13.16% to 1,118, according to the ports authority Mawani as reported by Arab News.
Trade
Imports rose 7.8% to 281,677 TEU and exports 7.95% to 279,550 TEU over the same month (Mawani via Arab News) — a broadly balanced gain across both directions of Saudi container trade.
Routing containers into the Kingdom? MIDTRANS will plan the connectivity and clearance.
Context
Total cargo tonnage fell 12.44% to 20.2 million tonnes, but that decline sat entirely in lower liquid-bulk volumes, not in containers — containerised trade grew 9.5% over the same month. So the box picture strengthened even as headline tonnage dipped.
What it means
Growing transshipment through Jeddah and Dammam improves feeder connectivity and schedule choice for Saudi-routed containers — more ways to reach the Kingdom and move onward across the region.
MIDTRANS
MIDTRANS SHIPPING AND SERVICES draws on that connectivity when planning sea and multimodal moves into the Kingdom and onward across the region, handling the customs clearance and corridor routing that turn a routing decision into a delivered shipment.
FAQ
Container volumes grew: transshipment rose 14.7% to 189,407 TEU and total throughput 9.5% to 750,634 TEU (Mawani via Arab News). Total cargo tonnage fell 12.44%, but that was liquid bulk only — containers grew.
The 12.44% tonnage decline to 20.2 million tonnes sat entirely in lower liquid-bulk volumes, not containers. Containerised trade rose 9.5% over the same month, so the box picture strengthened even as headline tonnage dipped.
More transshipment through Jeddah and Dammam means better feeder connectivity and schedule choice for Saudi-routed containers. MIDTRANS uses that connectivity to plan sea and multimodal moves into and through the Kingdom.
Vessel calls rose 13.16% to 1,118 in August 2026, according to the ports authority Mawani as reported by Arab News.
Yes. Imports rose 7.8% to 281,677 TEU and exports 7.95% to 279,550 TEU over the month (Mawani via Arab News), a broadly balanced gain in both directions of Saudi container trade.
Yes. MIDTRANS plans sea and multimodal moves into the Kingdom and onward across the region, handling the customs clearance and the corridor routing so the routing decision ends in a delivered shipment.
Tell us your route and cargo — MIDTRANS will plan the sea and multimodal move and handle Saudi customs clearance.
International Shipping & Customs Assistant
