Mwani Qatar has started introducing the new free storage period at Al-Ruwais Port.

The move comes within the framework of supporting the private sector, offering new incentives to customers as well as enhancing the role of the port, which is Qatar's northern gateway to trade and one of the most important ports to meet the increasing needs of the domestic market of foodstuff, meat and fresh and chilled produce.

Under the new rule, the company's customers will get double the previously free-storage days at Al-Ruwais Port for general cargo shipments, both export and import, as it has increased the free-storage allowance to six days instead of three days for imported cargo and ten days instead of five days for export cargo.

The free-storage period has become five days, instead of three days, for imported containers and seven days instead of five days for export containers.

The increase of free storage period at Al-Ruwais Port comes in conjunction with the start of operations of the second phase of the port, during which around 160,000 square meters of storage space was added to support the port operations, contributing to achieving the Ministry of Transport and Communications' strategic plan aimed at building stable and strong supply chain that meet the needs of the local market and provide the necessary support for the development boom and the state projects, especially in the northern region.

Thanks to the extensive development, Al-Ruwais Port was able to achieve significant growth in trade, import and export operations.

It is experiencing steady growth in volumes of handling, particularly for livestock, foodstuff and other cargo.

The port has achieved record performance in 2018, receiving up to 2,848 small and medium vessels with a growth of 35% over 2017.

It handled 119,774 tonnes of general cargo; up 30% from 2017 and 548,967 head of livestock with 118% increase.

This is in addition to 324,248 tonnes of aggregate and up to 25,000 containers and about 2,700 vehicles with a growth of 73% and 283%, respectively.

Development at Al-Ruwais Port began in 2014. A plan was put in place to develop the port in three stages and to develop six berths to receive various types of vessels and commercial goods.

The third expansion phase, which is under construction, will be completed in 2020 and aims to deepen the navigational channel of Al-Ruwais Port to 10 meters, helping to receive vessels with larger cargo.

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