DP World delivered another standout year for trade, recording its highest container and breakbulk cargo volumes at Jebel Ali Port since 2015. The port handled 15.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2024, up 1 million TEUs from the previous year. This marks the highest throughput since 2015, reinforcing Jebel Ali’s position as the leading trade and logistics hub in the region, even amid ongoing supply chain disruptions.
The figure represents nearly 18 percent of DP World’s total global container throughput of 88.3 million TEUs for the year. The growth in container throughput was driven by strong local and regional demand, particularly from Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, new shipping services that boosted global connectivity, and efficient operations that kept cargo flowing smoothly, despite challenges like the Red Sea crisis.
“This performance reflects the strength of our world-class ports and logistics infrastructure. The 15.5 million TEUs handled at Jebel Ali in 2024, along with the strong growth in breakbulk cargo, shows our capacity to meet increasing demand in both sectors,” stated Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & managing director, DP World GCC.
Breakbulk cargo grows 23 percent
Breakbulk cargo at Jebel Ali Port also saw significant growth, surging by 23 percent year-on-year to 5.4 million metric tons (MTs), the second-highest performance in nearly a decade.
This cargo growth was fuelled by the region’s growing investments in infrastructure, renewable energy and industrial development. Jebel Ali handled large shipments of wind turbines, solar panels, heavy machinery and construction materials, with imports making up 80 percent of total shipments. Outbound shipments were led by sugar, iron and steel.
Major infrastructure projects in the region have also fuelled the growth of breakbulk demand at Jebel Ali Port, which is set to continue, with the value of planned construction projects in the UAE alone reaching approximately $112 billion in 2024.
“With a thriving ecosystem in Jebel Ali Free Zone and strong ties with major global economies, we are well-positioned to support the region’s growing trade volumes. Despite global uncertainties, we remain committed to investing in advanced infrastructure to facilitate trade,” added Bin Damithan.
DP World’s network handles record 88.3 million TEUs in 2024
Jebel Ali Port played a critical role in supporting major international projects in 2024, including facilitating 45,000 MT of bagged wheat flour shipments for humanitarian aid to affected regions in the Middle East and Africa, consolidating structural steel exports for an aluminum recycling plant in the U.S., and streamlining logistics for Liberia’s largest mining project by consolidating and handling the export of 60 percent of its structural components.
Jebel Ali Port has an annual container capacity of 19.4 million TEUs across four terminals, over 100 berths, and a 25-kilometer quay length. It also features dedicated terminals for breakbulk, Ro-Ro and heavy-lift cargo. Dubai’s Mina Al Hamriya Port further complements these capabilities by handling bulk and breakbulk cargo and accommodating a wide range of vessel types.
Globally, DP World’s network of ports and terminals handled a record 88.3 million TEUs in 2024, an 8.3 percent year-on-year increase, demonstrating the company’s resilience amid macroeconomic headwinds and concerns over the outlook for global trade.
