Analysts worry that a lack of long-term cargo growth in the Arabian Gulf could result in large amounts of unused capacity at the competing ports of Jebel Ali in Dubai and Khalifa in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Analysts agree ports in the Middle East have far more capacity than they need to service current volumes, but opinions are split as to whether demand will eventually catch up to capacity.
“We will work together with Abu Dhabi to build the UAE-China Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone into a landmark program of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative.”
Khalifa Port Container Terminal recorded a 36 percent year-over-year jump in container volume during the first 10 months of this year, according to the newest port data released by port operator Abu Dhabi Ports Company.
Hyundai Merchant Marine extended its Korea-Middle East, or KMS, service to include a regular call at Abu Dhabi Terminals-operated Khalifa Port Container Terminal, starting this month.
Annual throughput at Khalifa Port Container Terminal (KPCT) soared past 1 million TEUs in 2014 as an expanded international network helped the Abu Dhabi Ports facility grow its volumes by more than 26 percent over the previous year.
Etihad Rail, the United Arab Emirates’ national railway network developer and operator, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi Ports Co. for the development of an integrated bulk and container railway terminal facility at Khalifa Port.
Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi, which includes Khalifa Port, is establishing a representative office in Mumbai, India, to tap growing global markets.
Abu Dhabi Terminals has signed a contract with Hong Kong-based container carrier OOCL to include a call at the Port of Khalifa on its China-Middle East Express Service.