Qatar’s ports record strong growth in July

Hamad, Doha, and Al Ruwais ports recorded significant year-on-year growth across key categories including vessel arrivals, general cargo, livestock, building materials, and RORO (vehicles), according to Mwani Qatar’s latest data. This uptick in maritime activity reflects the resilience and expansion of the non-hydrocarbon private sector. Aligned with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030, Mwani Qatar continues to pursue its strategic roadmap to elevate the sector’s economic contribution and cement Qatar’s role as a leading regional trade hub.

In July 2025, a total of 268 ships docked at Qatar’s three major ports—marking a substantial increase of 14.04% year-on-year and 15.52% month-on-month. Hamad Port, positioned strategically to facilitate cargo flows toward the upper Gulf—serving nations like Kuwait and Iraq—and southward to Oman, welcomed 151 vessels, excluding military ships, during the month.

Across the first seven months of the year, the three ports have collectively handled 1,755 ships, underscoring consistent growth in maritime traffic. Cargo volumes have also soared, with general and bulk freight totaling 234,424 tonnes in July—representing impressive jumps of 77.62% year-on-year and 63.82% compared to June.

Hamad Port’s multi-use terminal—dedicated to RORO, grains, and livestock—handled 148,501 tonnes of bulk cargo and 65,899 tonnes of breakbulk in July 2025. Together, Qatar’s three ports processed approximately 1.04 million cargo units during the first half of the year.

Livestock imports reached 28,250 heads in July alone, representing sharp increases of 39.15% year-on-year and 85.5% month-on-month. Over the first seven months of 2025, the total livestock volume handled stood at 379,985 heads.

Building material throughput also saw impressive expansion, with 52,677 tonnes moved in July—up 137.24% from July 2024 and 104.63% compared to June 2025. Cumulatively, the ports facilitated 378,655 tonnes of building materials from January through July.

Qatar’s three ports handled 12,798 RORO units in July 2025, reflecting a growth of 4.78% year-on-year and 29.5% compared to June. Hamad Port led the surge with 12,699 units processed during the month. Over the first seven months of 2025, the total RORO volume across the three ports reached 69,615 units. This growth aligns with a notable upswing in Qatar’s automobile sector, especially in heavy equipment, private motorcycles, and passenger vehicles, as reported by the National Planning Council.

Meanwhile, container throughput across the three ports stood at 116,970 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in July—a decline of 20.29% year-on-year and 12.36% month-on-month, indicating a temporary easing in container traffic.