The new route will contribute to AD Ports Group’s strategic objectives of increasing regional and global connectivity.
The new route will provide weekly connections for cargo between Karachi Port and AD Ports Group’s flagship Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, in addition to Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, Dammam and Jeddah in KSA, Aqaba in Jordan, Sokhna and Adabiya in Egypt, plus Port Sudan and Djibouti.
60 percent of Pakistan’s cargo handling
Karachi Port is a key economic hub that deals with approximately 60 percent of Pakistan’s cargo, handling on average of 26 million tons of cargo per annum. The deep natural port offers an 11 km approach channel, which enables safe navigation for vessels up to 75,000 tonnes deadweight.
The launch of the new Pakistan route follows AD Ports Group’s acquisition of a 70 percent shareholding in Egypt-based Transmar and Transcargo International S.A.E. (TCI) in September 2022.
The new service uses containers provided by Transmar on slots, largely provided by other AD Ports Group companies SAFEEN Feeders and Global Feeder Shipping (GFS), which it acquired earlier this month. By deploying synergies between its companies, AD Ports Group is looking to significantly enhance connectivity across the region.
Pakistan’s busiest port
Captain Ammar Mubarak Al Shaiba, acting CEO – of maritime cluster and SAFEEN group, AD Ports Group, said: “AD Ports Group is working to continuously improve the level of excellence, efficiency and connectivity available to our customers, leveraging the synergies of our recent acquisitions and the high level of support provided by our integrated team.
“The new weekly service will connect Pakistan’s busiest port with key maritime hubs across the Gulf, Red Sea, and East Africa, enabling the region to foster and increase integrated and collaborative trading partnerships.”
Ahmed El Ahwal, managing director, Transmar International Shipping Company said: “As a result of AD Ports Group’s shareholding in Transmar, we are pleased to be able to offer customers across the Middle East and East Africa greater connectivity to Karachi, which is one of the largest ports in South Asia, as well as the enabling customers in Pakistan to reach a wide range of key markets.”
Dynamic economy
Pakistan and the UAE enjoy a dynamic economic relationship, with bilateral trade in 2021-22 between the two countries valued at approximately US$ 10 billion. In 2020, the top exports from Pakistan to the UAE were US$ 122 million in gold and US$ 109 million in beef. Top exports in 2020 from the UAE to Pakistan were US$ 2.21 billion in refined petroleum and US$ 1.04 billion in crude petroleum.