Muscat: Sohar Port and Freezone continued to make solid progress in the first nine months of 2021 despite a global downturn in trade and supply chain disruption. The Port’s handling of goods in and out of the Sultanate (throughput) performance saw an overall increase of 6.1%, while Ship to Ship Cargo saw impressive growth of 59%, as Container Handling decreased by 3.9%. At the same time, Liquid Bulk increased by 7%, Dry Bulk increased by 4.3%, and Break Bulk remained the same. The Freezone’s performance has been stellar with a 16% increase in land occupancy and a 14% increase in throughput compared with the same period last year. The complex also saw an 8% increase in exports. SOHAR Port and Freezone remains on course for a strong end to the year.
Mark Geilenkirchen, chief executive officer of SOHAR Port and Freezone said, “Given the prevailing global circumstances outside of our influence, the results of the last nine months have been extremely gratifying and further reaffirm the progress we are making to position ourselves as a major global logistics hub. The Port and Freezone has remained open at full capacity throughout the pandemic, operating safely and efficiently to serve the industrial and economic sectors. We are confident that by the end of 2021, we will have achieved one of our most successful years yet.”
Omar Mahmood aMahrizi, Deputy CEO of SOHAR Port and CEO of SOHAR Freezone, added, “SOHAR is integral to the supply and exchange of goods to serve clients within the Freezone, across the country and further afield, as well as a gateway to the region for a growing roster of overseas companies and local SMEs. Over 70% of all goods entering the Sultanate pass through SOHAR, as well as more than 40% of exported goods. We are grateful to the entire SOHAR team, both at the Port and Freezone and offshore, for their hard work and commitment throughout the year to date and we anticipate a strong end to the year as the manufacture of consumer goods, food, and industrial supplies ramps up for a busy 2022.”
SOHAR Port and Freezone have attracted close to US$ 30 billion in total investment as part of a long-term commitment to developing the national economy in line with the objectives of Vision 2040. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, SOHAR is one of the world’s fastest-growing complexes of its kind, and significant developments within its industrial and food clusters are currently underway. The company is also exploring investment in green and renewable energy in order to make the complex more efficient and environmentally conscious for the benefit of tenants, clients, the community, and the environment.
