New Shipping Service from China to Eastern Saudi Arabia Opens

Saudi Arabia expands shipping traffic with China by opening new shipping routes. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia expands shipping traffic with China by opening new shipping routes. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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New Shipping Service from China to Eastern Saudi Arabia Opens

Saudi Arabia expands shipping traffic with China by opening new shipping routes. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia expands shipping traffic with China by opening new shipping routes. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) launched on Monday, in cooperation with the Saudi Global Ports Company, a new shipping service from China to the King Abdulaziz Port in al-Dammam, in eastern Saudi Arabia, as part of the Kingdom's drive to consolidate its position as a global logistics hub,

In a statement, MAWANI said that the new service is offered by a consortium of vessels deployed by Pacific International Lines (PIL), Regional Container Lines (RCL), and CULINES (CUL).

It added that the move aims to strengthen the Authority’s efforts to develop Saudi Arabia as a global leader in logistics and transportation.

The new service, which connects the most important ports in central and southern China to the Arabian Gulf, provides weekly direct and regular shipping.

The first service arrived on Dec. 15 in Saudi Global Ports berth. It took off from the ports of China to King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, and then will return directly to China’s Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, as a clear indication of the importance of Saudi exports to the Far East markets and the remarkable development in the capabilities of King Abdulaziz Port.

The Authority aims to enhance connectivity and reduce the shipping time between Saudi Arabia’s ports with the main Chinese and the region’s ports, in order to support and stimulate the export of national products and the direct flow of imports and increase trade movement between the two countries.

The statement noted that the new step comes as a continuation of the strategic initiatives and partnerships launched by MAWANI with major international shipping line companies, within the objectives of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services and in accordance with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.



Saudi Energy Minister Emphasizes Importance of Balancing Growth, Energy Security

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Photo: Energy Ministry account on X
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Photo: Energy Ministry account on X
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Saudi Energy Minister Emphasizes Importance of Balancing Growth, Energy Security

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Photo: Energy Ministry account on X
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Photo: Energy Ministry account on X

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz participated in the Energy Transitions Working Group meetings, the 15th Clean Energy Ministerial and the 9th Mission Innovation Ministerial, held this week in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, where he emphasized the importance of balancing economic growth and energy security.
The meetings focused on sustainable energy policies and equitable energy transitions within G20 efforts to enhance international cooperation aimed at achieving environmental sustainability and supporting innovations in clean energy technologies.
Prince Abdulaziz emphasized the importance of balancing economic growth, energy security, and climate change mitigation. He highlighted the Kingdom's leadership in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies, as well as its commitment to leading by example in leveraging circular carbon economy technologies, and affirmed the Kingdom's ambition to become a global leader in the production and export of clean energy.
Prince Abdulaziz also outlined Saudi Arabia's efforts to increase its renewable energy capacity, which is expected to reach approximately 44 gigawatts by the end of 2024, and touched upon the establishment of a hydrogen production hub in Ras Al Khair Industrial City, along with a major carbon capture and storage project, which will have a capacity of 9 million tons annually by 2027.