Qatar’s maritime trade activity witnessed a substantial annual increase in June 2025, underlining the growing strength of the country’s non-hydrocarbon economy. According to data released by Mwani Qatar, the country’s key ports—Hamad, Doha, and Al Ruwais—handled 143,101 tonnes of general and bulk cargo, marking a 151.35% rise compared to the same month last year.
While the year-on-year figures reflect strong momentum, the cargo volume dipped by 18.52% on a monthly basis. The figures suggest continued progress in Qatar’s strategy to diversify its economy, aligned with the Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to reduce reliance on hydrocarbons and enhance the country’s position as a regional trade hub.
During the first half of 2025, the three ports collectively processed 810,220 tonnes of general and bulk cargo. Building materials also played a significant role, with 25,742 tonnes handled in June, a 14.39% increase from June 2024. However, this category recorded a sharp 55.44% drop compared to May 2025. In total, 325,978 tonnes of building materials were moved through the ports from January to June.
Despite the rise in cargo, vessel arrivals dipped. June saw 232 ships docking at the ports, a decrease of 4.18% year-on-year and 21.09% month-on-month. For the first six months of the year, 1,487 vessels called at Qatari ports.
Container traffic in June reached 133,461 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), showing a decline of 7.88% annually and 6.57% monthly. The total TEU movement for the first half of 2025 stood at 742,789 units. These figures highlight ongoing efforts to support rising trade volumes through improved port infrastructure and logistics.
Livestock handling experienced a significant downturn, with only 15,229 heads processed in June—a 74.24% year-on-year and 81.06% month-on-month drop. However, cumulative livestock arrivals for the year totaled 351,735 heads.
In contrast, roll-on/roll-off (RORO) cargo, which includes vehicles, rose by 45.7% from the previous month despite a 36.97% decline year-on-year. A total of 9,883 RORO units were handled in June, contributing to a six-month total of 56,817 units.
Qatar’s rising auto sales, particularly in heavy equipment and motorcycles, have been supported by increased RORO activity. The latest figures affirm that the maritime sector remains a critical pillar of Qatar’s economic diversification efforts.
