Jeddah Islamic Port Sets Record with 495,000 TEUs

Handing over awards to "Mawani" at the recent transportation and logistics ceremony (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Handing over awards to "Mawani" at the recent transportation and logistics ceremony (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Jeddah Islamic Port Sets Record with 495,000 TEUs

Handing over awards to "Mawani" at the recent transportation and logistics ceremony (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Handing over awards to "Mawani" at the recent transportation and logistics ceremony (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Jeddah Islamic Port has set a new record for the biggest volume ever processed across its facilities over 30 days, handling 495,000 TEUs during July.

The latest milestone continues a course dating back to last year, which saw a record 4.96 million TEUs passing through the Kingdom's busiest Port, a 1.57 percent year-on-year increase compared to 2021.

The figures underscore the pivotal regional and global significance of the Port in line with Saudi Arabia's National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry have agreed to establish an integrated logistics zone in the port, with an investment value of one billion riyals ($266 million).

The logistics development aims to enhance MAWANI's position as a significant player in the national transportation sector and boost the Kingdom's drive to become a global logistics destination.

MAWANI won the Sea Port of The Year award, represented by Jeddah Port, and the Digital Transition Award at the 7th edition of the International Green Shipping Summit, held in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.

Jeddah Islamic Port received various awards, including eighth place in the 2021 Container Ports Performance Index issued by the World Bank and Standard & Poor's Global Market Intelligence.

MAWANI stated that winning the "Customer Experience Excellence" award underscores the exceptional efforts to enhance the experience for beneficiaries and port clients.

Additionally, MAWANI unveiled the new Customer Service Center as part of its comprehensive plan to enhance its services and offer outstanding services to its clients, aiming to achieve the highest standards of quality and speed in all services.

Notably, the Awards for Transport and Logistics is a regional platform that measures the achievements of organizations and individuals across various relevant sectors, acknowledging all efforts, strategies, and outstanding performance in transportation and logistics.



Ukraine Threatens to Halt Transit of Russian Oil to Europe

A view of storage tanks and pipelines at the Mero central oil tank farm, which moves crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline, near Nelahozeves, Czech Republic, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo
A view of storage tanks and pipelines at the Mero central oil tank farm, which moves crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline, near Nelahozeves, Czech Republic, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo
TT

Ukraine Threatens to Halt Transit of Russian Oil to Europe

A view of storage tanks and pipelines at the Mero central oil tank farm, which moves crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline, near Nelahozeves, Czech Republic, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo
A view of storage tanks and pipelines at the Mero central oil tank farm, which moves crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline, near Nelahozeves, Czech Republic, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo

A top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said Kyiv would halt the transit of Russian oil across its territory at the end of the year, when the current contract expires and is not renewed.

Mykhailo Podolyak said in an interview with the Novini.Live broadcaster that current transit contracts for Russian supplies that run through the end of the year will not be renewed.

“There is no doubt that it will all end on January 1, 2025,” he said.

Kiev says it is prepared to transport gas from the Central Asian countries or Azerbaijan to Europe, but not from Russia, as it is crucial for Ukraine to deprive Russia of its sources of income from the sale of raw materials after it attacked its neighbor well over two years ago.

The contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe between the state-owned companies Gazprom and Naftogaz ends on December 31.

Despite the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainians have fulfilled the contract terms - in part at the insistence of its European neighbors, especially Hungary.

But the leadership in Kiev has repeatedly made it clear that it wants the shipments to end.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic energy security envoy Vaclav Bartuska said on Friday that any potential halt in oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline through Ukraine from Russia from next year would not be a problem for the country.

Responding to a Reuters question – on comments by Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak that flows of Russian oil may stop from January – Bartuska said Ukraine had also in the past warned of a potential halt.

“This is not the first time, this time maybe they mean it seriously – we shall see,” Bartuska said in a text message. “For the Czech Republic, it is not a problem.”

To end partial dependency on the Druzhba pipeline, Czech state-owned pipeline operator MERO has been investing in raising the capacity of the TAL pipeline from Italy to Germany, which connects to the IKL pipeline supplying the Czech Republic.

From next year, the increased capacity would be sufficient for the total needs of the country’s two refineries, owned by Poland’s Orlen, of up to 8 million tons of crude per year.

MERO has said it planned to achieve the country’s independence from Russian oil from the start of 2025, although the TAL upgrade would be finished by June 2025.

On Friday, oil prices stabilized, heading for a weekly increase, as disruptions in Libyan production and Iraq’s plans to curb output raised concerns about supply.

Meanwhile, data showing that the US economy grew faster than initially estimated eased recession fears.

However, signs of weakening demand, particularly in China, capped gains.

Brent crude futures for October delivery, which expire on Friday, fell by 7 cents, or 0.09%, to $79.87 per barrel. The more actively traded November contract rose 5 cents, or 0.06%, to $78.87.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures added 6 cents, or 0.08%, to $75.97 per barrel.

The day before, both benchmarks had risen by more than $1, and so far this week, they have gained 1.1% and 1.6%, respectively.

Additionally, a drop in Libyan exports and the prospect of lower Iraqi crude production in September are expected to help keep the oil market undersupplied.

Over half of Libya’s oil production, around 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), was halted on Thursday, and exports were suspended at several ports due to a standoff between rival political factions.

Elsewhere, Iraq plans to reduce oil output in September as part of a plan to compensate for producing over the quota agreed with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

Iraq, which produced 4.25 million bpd in July, will cut output to between 3.85 million and 3.9 million bpd next month, the source said.