This past year saw a substantial growth in the amount of cargo handling in the ports of Sultan Qaboos and Salalah despite the fact that the actual number of vessels moored at both ports saw a decline.

During the first quarter of 2014 Port Sultan Qaboos (PSQ) and Port of Salalah

experienced growth of handling of cargo by 12.7 percent at PSQ and an impressive 58 percent at Salalah port.

The National Center for Statistics and Information reported that the total volume of loaded and unloaded export cargo increased from 1.26 million tonnes during the first quarter of 2013 to 1.42 million tonnes by the end of March 2014. At Salalah port the report stated that 1.69 million tonnes were handled during the first three months of 2013 compared to 2.68 million tonnes during the same period in 2014.

Interestingly, the number of mooring vessels docked at PSQ and Salalah ports saw a shrinkage of 6.5 percent; 973 vessels at the end of March 2013 down to 910 vessels.