Jeddah Islamic Port Hits Record Container Volumes

Jeddah Islamic Port handled more than 221,200 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at its South Container Terminal in July 2026, marking the highest monthly throughput recorded since 1999, as newly automated systems and digital customs processes accelerate vessel handling.

The milestone follows a terminal expansion launched in 2025 that raised the South Container Terminal's annual capacity from 1.8 million to 4 million TEUs. Automated gate processing has cut a single gate transaction from roughly two minutes to about 10 seconds, easing truck flow in and out of the facility.

To manage traffic, a Truck Marshalling Yard fee of SAR 17 Customs pre-clearance and digital document submission workflows also allow compliant shipments to be cleared before a vessel arrives, reducing waiting times at berth.

What it means for shippers

Storage rules cited for 2026 give transit containers 15 free days, after which charges begin for days 16 to 40 at SAR 6 Transit general cargo and Ro-Ro or vehicle cargo receive 5 free days, then SAR 10 while transit bulk cargo is charged SAR 10

For residents and businesses, faster clearance and higher capacity mean smoother movement of goods through one of the Kingdom's busiest gateways. Customs and cargo release are handled through ZATCA, while port operations fall under the port authority Mawani.

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