Muscat – Omani ports are strengthening the sultanate’s position as a regional and international trade and logistics hub, supported by a broad-based expansion in maritime activity, cargo handling and vehicle shipments during the first eight months of 2026.

The volume of goods handled at Omani ports surged 62.3% to approximately 146mn tonnes during the first eight months of 2026, compared with around 90.5mn tonnes in the same period last year, according to Laila bint Ali Al Batashi, Director of the Ports and Marine Terminals Department at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.

The number of ships received by Omani ports and marine terminals outside ports increased 27.9% to more than 11,000 by the end of August 2026, compared with 8,793 during the same period in 2025, Laila said in a statement to Oman News Agency.

Container handling also recorded strong growth, with throughput exceeding 4mn twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 20.5% from 3,368,465 TEUs in the corresponding period of 2025.

The strong growth in operational activity highlights the increasing role of the country’s ports in facilitating trade, supporting supply chains and connecting Oman with regional and global markets.

Vehicle handling recorded the strongest growth among the operational indicators monitored, rising 182.6% to 188,368 vehicles from 66,661 in the same period last year, Laila noted.

“These indicators reflect the growing operational activity at Omani ports this year, driven by the increase in the number of ships, containers, and the volume of goods and vehicles handled,” she said.

The strong growth in maritime activity also aligns with Oman’s long-term plans to expand its transport sector and strengthen regional connectivity, as GCC countries seek to improve links between their markets.

S&P Global Ratings recently highlighted Oman’s potential to play a greater role in regional trade by coordinating alternative transport routes, citing its logistics infrastructure and geographical position outside the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Middle East conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz indicate that Oman’s natural competitive edge as a trading hub will likely strengthen the country’s role as a regional coordinator for alternative transport routes,” S&P said in a report in late September, when it affirmed Oman’s long-term sovereign credit rating at ‘BBB-’.

According to S&P, Oman remains “notably positioned” among its Gulf neighbours, with its ports’ direct access to the Arabian Sea providing a significant advantage for the country’s trade flows.