DP World hits best-ever container volumes despite global headwinds

Dubai: Dubai owned DP World’s container volumes hit a new high of 88.3 million TEUs despite the industry facing headwinds when it comes to trade and economic growth. The 2024 DP World container numbers represent an 8.% increase from a year ago.

Outside of its main Jebel Ali operations, DP World has quite a widespread global presence through its port and terminal management. It now has capacity to handle more than 100 million TEU across operations in 78 countries, benefitted from ‘long-term infrastructure investment contributing to strong growth and new services calling at its terminals’.

“While the Red Sea crisis posed a significant challenge to global shipping in 2024, causing delays and rerouting across major trade corridors, DP World’s record performance underscores the strength of its diversified global portfolio and ability to navigate supply chain volatility,” said a statement.

According to Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, “During the last 10 years we have invested more than $11 billion in world-class ports and logistics infrastructure to make trade flow. This record performance is further evidence that our long-term investment is providing the right services for our customers in the right places.”

The highest growths in in the DP World portfolio was the Posorja terminal in Ecuador, on South America’s west coast, which posted an 87% lift in volume to nearly 1 million TEUs.

Double-digit growth was seen at San Antonio in Chile, Yarimca in Türkiye, Chennai in India, Callao in Peru, Antwerp in Belgium and London Gateway in the UK.

The flagship Jebel Ali Port saw a 7% increase from 2023.

“We are confident that the container market will continue to grow and that we have the capacity to service it,” said Bin Sulayem “Whatever the short-term challenges, we remain bullish on the outlook for world trade.”

New ports and terminals added nearly 1 million TEUs to the total volume. This includes the new DP World-Evyap merger in Turkey, the operations at Dar Es Salaam Port in Tanzania, and the Belawan New Container Terminal in Indonesia.