Shipping Arabia, October 20, 2026 – Oman’s ports recorded strong operational growth during the first eight months of 2026, with cargo throughput rising 62.3% and container volumes increasing 20.5% compared with the same period in 2025. The latest figures from the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology also show significant increases in vessel arrivals and vehicle handling, reflecting expanding maritime and logistics activity across the Sultanate.
Total cargo throughput at Omani ports reached approximately 146 million tons by the end of August 2026, compared with 90.5 million tons during the corresponding period of 2025. The increase highlights the growing volume of goods moving through the country’s maritime facilities and their expanding role in supporting supply chains and logistics services.
Layla bint Ali Al Battashi, Director of the Ports and Marine Berths Department at the ministry, presented the figures in a statement to the Oman News Agency. She said the operational indicators reflect increasing trade activity and the continued development of Oman’s maritime transport sector.
Container Throughput Exceeds 4 Million TEUs
Container handling at Omani ports increased by 20.5% during the first eight months of 2026, exceeding 4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This compares with 3,368,465 TEUs handled during the same period in 2025.
According to Al Battashi, the growth reflects expanding commercial activity and the efficiency of port operations. The increase also demonstrates the importance of container handling within Oman’s maritime transport and logistics system.
Meanwhile, vessel arrivals at Omani ports and marine berths located outside port limits rose by 27.9%. More than 11,000 vessels were received by the end of August 2026, compared with 8,793 vessels during the corresponding period of the previous year.
The simultaneous growth in vessel arrivals and container throughput reflects the broader increase in maritime activity recorded across the country’s port system.
Cargo and Vehicle Handling Register Significant Increases
Beyond container shipping, Oman recorded a substantial increase in total cargo volumes. Port cargo throughput reached approximately 146 million tons during the reporting period, representing a 62.3% increase from the 90.5 million tons handled a year earlier.
Al Battashi highlighted the importance of this growth in strengthening the role of Omani ports in supporting supply chains and logistics activities. The figures demonstrate the increasing movement of goods through the country’s maritime infrastructure.
Vehicle handling recorded the highest percentage growth among the four operational indicators reported by the ministry.
The number of vehicles handled at Omani ports surged by 182.6% to 188,368 units during the first eight months of 2026. This compares with 66,661 vehicles during the same period in 2025.
The sharp increase in vehicle volumes contributed to the overall expansion of port activity, alongside the growth recorded in cargo throughput, container handling and vessel arrivals.
Omani Ports Strengthen Regional and International Trade Connectivity
Al Battashi emphasized that the latest operational results demonstrate the continued growth of Oman’s port sector during 2026. She pointed to the increases across all four indicators as evidence of expanding maritime activity and the importance of ports to the country’s transport and logistics system.
According to the ministry, this performance reinforces the role of Omani ports as essential infrastructure for facilitating trade and supporting logistics services.
The growth also strengthens Oman’s connectivity with regional and international markets, supporting the country’s position within maritime transport and global trade networks.
With higher vessel arrivals, container throughput, cargo volumes and vehicle handling recorded through August, Oman’s ports continue to play a central role in facilitating trade flows and supporting the Sultanate’s logistics sector.
Source: Oman Daily