The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced the addition of Maersk’s new AE19 shipping service to Jeddah Islamic Port, significantly boosting the kingdom's maritime connectivity with global markets.

This high-capacity service, utilising vessels capable of carrying up to 17,000 TEUs, links Jeddah to primary Asian hubs including Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao, and Xingang in China, Busan in Korea, and Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia. The route also extends to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and strategic Mediterranean hubs before reaching Singapore.

In addition to this, Mawani also added Hapag-Lloyd’s SE4 shipping service to Jeddah port. 

This expansion aligns with Vision 2030 objectives to solidify Saudi Arabia's position as a global logistics hub, enhancing the competitiveness of Jeddah Islamic Port and facilitating the growth of national exports through improved access to international supply chains.

The Jeddah port continues to expand its operational footprint, utilising its 62 multi-purpose berths and specialised terminals to support a total handling capacity of 130 million tonnes.

Boasting a capacity of up to 17,000 TEUs, the service aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading global logistics hub connecting three continents, said the statement.

This new route links the Saudi port city to major international hubs, including Tianjin Xingang, Qingdao, Ningbo and Shanghai in China, as well as Busan in Korea and Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia, it added.-TradeArabia News Service