King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail registered a big increase in the discharge of heavy-lift tonnage in 2006 while overall throughput at the port dropped 1 per cent over the previous year’s figure, statistics released by the port showed.

It revealed that throughput in 2006 was 38.96 million tonnes in 2006 and total cargo discharged was 5.53 million tonnes, down 14 per cent compared with 2005.   While heavy-lift items recorded a 142 per cent increase at 13,827 tonnes, there was a 17 per cent drop in feedstock at 518,821 tonnes and a 14 per cent fall in iron ore and scrap at 5 million tonnes.
Total cargo loaded at the port was down 2 per cent at 33.43 million tonnes compared with 2005. According to the statistics provided, there was a drop of 2 per cent in fuel oil at 3.86 million tonnes, and a 62 per cent fall in the miscellaneous category. However, the 2.79 million tonnes of sulphur loaded was an improvement of 11 per cent over the previous year. Petrochemicals loaded were up 4 per cent at 13.6 million tonnes while urea showed a 1 per cent increase at 2.53 million tonnes.  The loading of refined products was nearly the same as in 2005 at 10.61million tonnes.
The throughput comprised 10.3 million tones in solid bulk cargo. There was also some half a million tonnes of liquid bulk cargo (excluding crude oil) discharged and 28 million tonnes loaded.
There were no figures for container cargo, ro-ro vehicles or livestock. 
Of the total imports of 5.53 million tonnes, South America accounted for 1.86 million tonnes, Western Europe 1.79 million tonnes and the GCC region 1.427 million tonnes.
Of the total exports of 33.43 million tonnes, Asia accounted for 13.7 million tonnes. The Asia figure was exclusive of the GCC, 8.7 million tonnes and other Arab and Islamic states, approximately 3 million tonnes.                                                 

Jubail Commercial Port
Jubail Commercial Port registered a throughput of 2.88 million tonnes in 2006, up 20 per cent over the previous year.
The 2006 consignments included container cargo of 141,136 tonnes, port authorities said.
Also handled was 1.69 million tonnes of solid bulk cargo, 7,302 tonnes of liquid bulk cargo (excluding crude oil) and 1.04 million tonnes of general cargo.
There was no ro-ro cargo or livestock in the year’s statistics.
In terms of 20-foot equivalent units (teus), the total throughput was 11,785.
Some 2.041 million tonnes of imported cargo arrived at the port with Eastern Europe accounting for 661,446 tonnes and Western Europe 209,332 tonnes.  Asia accounted for 424,333 tonnes but the region excluded GCC and other Arab and Islamic states.
Food accounted for the largest tonnage at 790,875 against 774,312 for building materials and 379,725 for feedstock.
The export tonnage from Jubail Commercial Port was put at 845,861 with industrial products constituting an overwhelming portion at 609,000. Petrochemical products made up 219,902 tonnes and refined products 4,549 tonnes. Asia, the GCC states and other Arab and Islamic markets totally accounted for nearly 691,000 tonnes.