33 Jeddah Throughput: 3,325,749teu (+8.4%)

A solid quarter million teu growth in container throughput saw the leading Saudi Arabian box port climb one place in the Top 100 in 2008. Much like Dubai, Jeddah had problems keeping pace with demand, with congestion affecting imports and exports. Forwarders diverted boxes to Jebel Ali and sent them by land to Saudi Arabia. Containers transhipment at Jeddah fell by 3.28% last year, to 1.46m teu.

The port's new Red Sea Gateway Terminal is scheduled to open on 1 October and will be able to accommodate the largest containerships up to 15,000teu. The new port area will have an annual capacity of 1.8m teu handling, an 18-metre draught with a dedicated navigation channel, a separate feeder berth, and eight STS quay cranes with tandem lift capability. Four of the eight cranes will be operational in the first phase, capable of simultaneously lifting four 20ft containers.

The port is recruiting personnel for its new terminal from India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Yemen.

Jeddah has grown an average of 11% a year since 2004, capitalising on its position on the main Asia-Europe trunk route and its status as Saudi Arabia's gateway port.