Red Sea rerouting prompts recalibration of Saudi trade
- King Abdullah and Jeddah saw volumes decimated last year in the absence of major carriers in the Red Sea
- The Middle East Gulf port of Dammam has served as a vital alternative ocean entry point for Saudi’s gateway cargoes, resulting in record throughput numbers
- Regional carriers have continued to pick up the slack
The Red Sea crisis triggered a big rerouting of global shipping around Africa, slashing Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port volumes. King Abdullah Port volumes fell 83% in 2024, Jeddah fell 33%, while Dammam surged 43% as traffic shifted to the Middle East Gulf. Feeder ships replaced mega-vessels in the Red Sea to ensure regional cargo coverage was maintained, but renewed conflict keeps risk levels high and recovery uncertain
