Boubyan Island News

ICTSI’s announcement earlier this month that it is investing over $130m in a long term deal with Iraq’s Port Authority to operate and enhance container handling capacity at Umm Qasr illustrates the opportunities ahead for ocean carriers, says Drewry's 'Container Insight Weekly'. Investment by major terminal operators in Umm Qasr shows growing confidence in Iraq’s container growth potential, whilst sanctions continue to bite in neighbouring Iran. Iraq’s sole container port already saw volumes jump by more than 65% in 2013, up to 570,000 teu. Admittedly this is from a relatively low base but it remains impressive growth and suggests that the country’s cargo base is expanding from military cargoes and construction materials to consumer goods and manufactured items.

Kuwait invests $1.2 billion in bid for Northern Gulf gateway for new port facilities as regional market competition intensifies. A recent World Bank report ranked Kuwait in 36th place out of 155 countries in terms of the movement of goods and services through its ports, but traffic congestion at existing locations has prompted significant investment into new facilities in order to capitalise on commercial potential and secure gateway status for the Northern Gulf region.