11/11/2026 04:39 AST
The Port of Salalah handled 3.8mn twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers in the first nine months of 2026, marking an 18% increase from 3.2mn TEUs in the corresponding period last year, as expanded terminal capacity and rising cargo flows from the upper Gulf and the UAE boosted throughput.
The growth in volumes reflects the benefits of the completed capacity upgrade at the Container Terminal, alongside increased transhipment volumes. The details were disclosed in Salalah Port Services Company's (SPSC) financial report submitted to the Muscat Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
The company expects demand for container handling capacity to remain strong through the fourth quarter, supported by continued shipper-owned container (SOC) activity and changing regional cargo flows.
In particular, SPSC highlighted a shift in container freight station (CFS) cargo from Dubai's Jebel Ali to Salalah, with the port increasingly serving markets in Yemen and East Africa. The development is expected to generate further volume growth, although it will also place additional pressure on available capacity, the company said.
General cargo activity at the Port of Salalah also recorded steady growth, with the General Cargo Terminal handling 21mn metric tonnes in the nine months to September 30, compared with 19.8mn tonnes in the same period of 2025, representing an increase of 6%.
The improvement was mainly driven by higher dry bulk throughput. SPSC expects demand for limestone and gypsum to remain strong, while growth in break bulk cargo is expected to benefit from higher export demand from Salalah Mills Company and Raysut Cement Company.
In the liquid cargo segment, SPSC said increased bunkering activity is expected to sustain the positive growth trend.
Revenue rises 20%
SPSC's consolidated revenue from operations increased 20% year on year in the first nine months of 2026, supported by higher container handling capacity, increased cargo volumes from the upper Gulf and the UAE, and growth in dry bulk activity at the General Cargo Terminal.
However, operating expenses rose 21%, mainly due to costs associated with damage to port equipment and facilities, according to SPSC.
SPSC's consolidated net profit increased to RO5mn from RO4.7mn in the corresponding period of 2025, representing growth of approximately 6%.
Consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) declined to RO19.2mn from RO20.3mn a year earlier.
Concession to end in November 2028
The Government of Oman, through the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), recently informed SPSC that its concessions will not be extended beyond their contractual expiry date of November 1, 2028. The development was previously disclosed to the Muscat Stock Exchange on October 18.
In its financial report, SPSC said it had not yet been informed about the identity of the new concessionaire or concessionaires. The company said it would begin preparations for the transfer of operations and coordinate closely with MTCIT and other relevant authorities to ensure a smooth transition.
The board of directors and management reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the company's operational performance until the concession expires in November 2028, SPSC added.
Muscat Daily
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