In 2014, ADPC’s commercial ports, including Musaffah, Khalifa, and Zayed, processed 6.4 million tonnes of general cargo, up from 4.7 million in the first half of 2013. — Supplied photo
Abu Dhabi Ports Company’s three commercial ports — Musaffah, Khalifa, and Zayed — managed 6.4 million freight tonnes (FT) of general cargo in 2014, marking a significant rise from 4.7 million FT in the first half of 2013, an increase of 1.74 million FT year-over-year.
These statistics reflect a robust start to 2014 and hint at a promising remainder of the year, according to Capt Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of ADPC.
“Cargo volumes at our ports are increasing. We anticipate exceeding 12 million FT by the end of this year, compared to 9.5 million FT last year,” Capt Al Shamisi stated.
Abu Dhabi’s economic expansion contributes to this rise, alongside ADPC’s collaborations with key clients to optimize supply chain efficiencies, involving both local and international companies such as Emirates Aluminium (Emal), Emirates Steel, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation.
Emal serves as the primary tenant in the aluminum cluster at Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), featuring a dedicated wharf at Khalifa Port to streamline the supply chain directly from sea to smelter.
Emal and ADPC have inked a decade-long agreement for ADPC to manage all logistics for exporting high-quality aluminum products from Emal to over 150 global customers. Emal projects an increase in exported metal from 600,000 tonnes in 2014 to over 750,000 tonnes starting in 2015. Additionally, the surge in import and export activities at Abu Dhabi’s ports is driven by major infrastructure projects demanding higher import and export volumes.
Projects like the midfield terminal at Abu Dhabi Airports, the forthcoming Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Museum, and various construction endeavors in the Western Region are spurring demand for specialized project cargo and increased building materials. In response, ADPC is boosting its general and bulk cargo capacity at Abu Dhabi Ports, with a focus on Zayed Port.
Following a Dh20 million investment in critical maintenance at Zayed Port and the free ports in March, ADPC is now revamping all processes at Zayed Port, upgrading equipment, and enhancing business efficiencies to manage cargo flows optimally.
— haseeb@khaleejtimes.com
